Distribution of volatile organic chemicals in outdoor and indoor air

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00177a001· OSTI ID:6103796

Shah, J J; Singh, H B

The release of many volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the ambient environment is a necessary outcome of their use. Monitoring activities have generated a significant body of VOC data widely scattered in scientific journals and reports. Critics charge that too few chemicals are monitored, the data generated are of varying and often questionable quality, and the results are not readily available to users. In 1980, EPA recognized the need to organize the available data into a single, cohesive format so their quantity, quality, and significance could be assessed. A VOC national ambient data base was first prepared in the early 1980s and published by EPA. In 1986, when the data base needed to be expanded to include the large amount of ambient VOC data published since 1980, EPA contracted to upgrade and expand the early study. Concurrently, powerful personal computers (PCs) that could be conveniently sued for such data bases became available. As a result of this study, outdoor as well as indoor data are now available in a unified form for PCs and can be used to screen for many environmental problems, including exposure to VOCs. Here we present a first look at this comprehensive national VOC data base and construct a picture of VOC distribution in the environment.

• Research Organization: G2 Environmental, Inc., Portland, OR (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6103796
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 22:12; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
COMPUTERS
DATA
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DATA COMPILATION
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INFORMATION
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
MATTER
MICROCOMPUTERS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
POLLUTION
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLATILE MATTER