Personal exposure to 25 volatile organic compounds. EPA's 1987 team study in Los Angeles, California

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Toxicology and Industrial Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/074823379100700523· OSTI ID:5536938

Wallace, L A

The US EPA and the California Air Resources Board studied the exposures of 51 residents of Los Angeles, CA to 25 volatile organic chemicals in air and drinking water in February and July of 1987. Participants carried a personal air monitor consisting of a Tenax cartridge and a small sampling pump for two consecutive 12-hour periods. Concurrently, outdoor air samples were collected in the back yards and indoor air samples were collected in the kitchen and living room. Breath samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the 24-hour monitoring period using a vanmounted spirometer employing Tedlar bags followed by collection on Tenax cartridges. All analyses were by GC/MS. Air exchange measurements were made at all homes using the perfluorotracer method. For most chemicals, personal air concentrations were greater than indoor air levels, which were in turn greater than outdoor air concentrations. Breath concentrations were more stable than air exposures and were significantly correlated with previous exposure. Using the air exchange measurements, whole-house source strengths were estimated to range between approximately zero for carbon tetrachloride to 10,000 micrograms/h for para-dichlorobenzene. Ambient concentrations in February were two-three times those in July, perhaps due to strong inversions.

• OSTI ID: 5536938
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Industrial Health; (United States), Journal Name: Toxicology and Industrial Health; (United States) Vol. 7:5-6; ISSN TIHEE; ISSN 0748-2337
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
CALIFORNIA
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONTROL
COOPERATION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
LOS ANGELES
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATTER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
MONITORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
QUALITY CONTROL
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
URBAN AREAS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VARIATIONS
VOLATILE MATTER