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Title: Indoor air pollutants from unvented kerosene heater emissions in mobile homes: Studies on particles, semivolatile organics, carbon monoxide, and mutagenicity

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00022a009· OSTI ID:5253308
; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
  2. Environmental Health Research and Testing, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
  3. Battelle, Columbus, OH (United States)

This study assessed human exposure to air pollutants from unvented kerosene heaters in mobile homes. Eight electric homes with no smokers were monitored for airborne particles of < 10 {mu}m in diameter (PM{sub 10}), semivolatile organics, and carbon monoxide with the kerosene heaters on and off. The organic emissions were assayed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), nitro-PAH, and for mutagenicity in a Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. Usage of kerosene heaters resulted in (a) a significant increase in CO and organic levels (including carcinogenic PAH and nitro-PAH), (b) no significant effect on PM{sub 10} levels, except in two homes, (c) the presence of unburned kerosene fuel, (d) an increase in mutagenicity (in TA98) of particle-phase organics in five homes, and (e) little mutagenicity in the semivolatile organics in TA98 and TA100. Four of the eight heaters investigated emitted pollutants that exceeded the US ambient air standards for the 24-h PM{sub 10} standard and/or CO standards (the 1-h peak or 8-h average standard). This study showed that kerosene heater emissions can significantly impact indoor air quality in mobile homes.

OSTI ID:
5253308
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Vol. 25:10; ISSN 0013-936X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English