Air pollution in southern California museums: Indoor and outdoor levels of nitrogen dioxide, peroxyacetyl nitrate, nitric acid, and chlorinated hydrocarbons

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00017a004· OSTI ID:5093662

Hisham, M W.M.; Grosjean, D ^[1]

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1. DGA, Ventura, CA (United States)

A survey of the air pollutants nitrogen dioxide, peroxyacetyl nitrate, methylchloroform, tetrachlorethylene, and nitric acid has been carried out at nine Southern California museums. Highest indoor levels were 120 ppb for NO{sub 2} 14 ppb for PAN, 10 ppb for nitric acid, and more than 12 and 30 ppb for Cl{sub 2}C{double bond}CCl{sub 2} and CH{sub 3}CCl{sub 3}, respectively. At all but one museum, indoor concentrations of NO{sub 2}, PAN, and nitric acid were comparable to outdoor levels and closely followed outdoor air exchange. At six of the nine institutions surveyed, indoor levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons were higher than outdoor concentrations, thus pointing to indoor sources. At museums lacking air conditioning (HVAC) systems, indoor levels of air pollutants were essentially identical with outdoor ones. At institutions with HVAC, levels of NO{sub 2}, PAN, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and the corresponding indoor/outdoor ratios were high and indicated only modest removal by the HVAC system. Of the three museums equipped with HVAC and chemical filtration, only one yielded low indoor pollutant concentrations and low indoor/outdoor ratios.

• OSTI ID: 5093662
• 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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