Driver exposure to volatile organic compounds, CO, ozone, and NO sub 2 under different driving conditions

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00017a021· OSTI ID:5019455

Chan, Changchuan; Oezkaynak, H; Spengler, J D; Sheldon, L ^[1]

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1. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (United States)

The in-vehicle concentrations of 24 gasoline-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and three criteria air pollutants, ozone, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide, were measured in the summer of 1988, in Raleigh, NC. Two four-door sedan of different ages were used to evaluate in-vehicle concentrations of these compounds under different driving conditions. Factors that could influence driver exposure, such as different traffic patterns, car model, vehicle ventilation conditions, and driving periods, were evaluated. Isopentane was the most abundant aliphatic hydrocarbon and toluene was the most abundant aromatic VOC measured inside the vehicles. In-vehicle VOC and CO concentrations were highest for the urban roadway, second highest for the interstate highway, and lowest for the rural road. The median concentration ratio of urban/interstate/rural for each VOC was about 10/6/1. No differences in in-vehicle VOC concentrations were found between morning and afternoon rush hour driving, but higher in-vehicle ozone and NO{sub 2} concentrations were found during afternoon driving. In-vehicle VOC levels were lowest with the air conditioner on and highest when the vent was open with the fan on. The in-vehicle/car exterior concentration ratio for VOCs, CO, and NO{sub 2} was slightly higher than 1. The VOC concentration measured by a pedestrian on the urban sidewalk was lower than the in-vehicle measurements but higher than the fixed-site measurements but higher than the fixed-site measurements on urban roadways 50 m from streets. The VOC measurements were positively correlated with the CO measurement and negatively correlated with the ozone measurement.

• OSTI ID: 5019455
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 25:5; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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02 PETROLEUM
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AIR CONDITIONERS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR SAMPLERS
ALKANES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
AUTOMOBILES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
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CHROMATOGRAPHY
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FLUIDS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
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LUMINESCENCE
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATTER
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
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SAMPLERS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
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US ORGANIZATIONS
VEHICLES
VENTILATION
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTES