Nitrogen dioxide exposures among a selected group of residents of substandard housing in Houston, Texas
Nitrogen dioxide (NO[sub 2]) levels in sixteen substandard houses located in Houston, Texas were examined. The classification of the houses as substandard was based on an assessment of structural integrity which would affect air exchange rates. In these homes, unvented gas space heaters were operated as the primary source of heat. The Ogawa passive sampling device was used to measure NO[sub 2] concentrations over 24 to 48-hour periods during generally cold weather. A sampler was placed in the kitchen and bedroom of each house. The female head of household was asked to wear a monitor during area monitoring to assess her personal exposure. Outdoor levels of NO[sub 2] were also measured. Mean (standard deviation) levels of kitchen, bedroom and personal exposures were 280 (125) ppb, 256 (155) ppb and 164 (102) ppb, respectively. Additional short-term (<24 hours) samples were measured in three houses. The mean level of NO[sub 2] measured outdoors was 51 ppb over the course of the study. The measurements obtained with the Ogawa sampler were compared to those levels obtained using a reference method (chemiluminescence). Outdoor levels measured with the diffusion samplers were 48% higher. These results suggest that wintertime NO[sub 2] levels within substandard houses using gas appliances for heating and cooking are extremely elevated. Further work is needed to investigate the prevalence of possible health effects associated with these exposures.
- Research Organization:
- Texas Univ., Houston, TX (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5509552
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
APPLIANCES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BUILDINGS
CHALCOGENIDES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EQUIPMENT
EXPOSURE RATEMETERS
GAS APPLIANCES
HEATERS
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN DIOXIDE
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIATION MONITORS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HEATERS
TEXAS
USA
WEATHER