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Air and pollutant movement in a building can be evaluated using CO as a surrogate

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6448767
The paper discusses tracer tests conducted to determine how indoor conditions may affect pollutant levels, prior to initiating a study of the indoor use of aerosol products. (NOTE: Aerosol product use indoors can cause elevated concentrations of vapor-phase organic compounds.) Carbon monoxide (CO) was chosen to represent gas-phase emissions from aerosol products. CO is easy to monitor over a range of 0-200 ppm, and background levels expected in indoor environments are quite low (<1-3 ppm). CO was released in the bathroom of a test house, and CO distribution throughout the house was followed under several scenarios, including: a bathroom vent fan on/off, the furnace fan on/off, doors open/closed, and windows open/closed. Because of the concentration of CO used, a safety plan was in effect during all tests. The ability to use CO as a surrogate was evaluated by using a commercially available home spot remover containing perchloroethylene (perc). The product was used per package directions and released in the same location and conditions used in the CO tests. The distribution of perc was followed using gas chromatography. The results of the air movement study and the evaluation of how well CO can serve as a surrogate are presented.
Research Organization:
Acurex Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)
OSTI ID:
6448767
Report Number(s):
PB-90-262957/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-02-4701
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English