Unvented kerosene-heater emissions in mobile homes: Studies on indoor air particles, semivolatile organics, carbon monoxide, and mutagenicity
The study was conducted to assess human exposure to air pollutants resulting from the use of kerosene heaters in mobile homes. It has been estimated that 15-17 million unvented kerosene heaters have been sold in the United States, and 33% of these heaters have been sold to mobile home residents. The emissions from kerosene heaters can result in high pollutants levels in mobile homes that have a small air volume and low ventilation rate. Indoor air exchange rate, temperature, and humidity were measured. Chemical analyses, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and nitro PAH, also were performed on the indoor air samples from a selected home with the kerosene heater on and off. Increases in CO and organic concentrations resulting from the use of kerosene heaters were found in most homes monitored. Chemical analysis data also suggested the presence of evaporated, unburned kerosene fuel present in semivolatile organics collected in the XAD samples. When kerosene heaters were on, 56% of the sampling days (in all homes) showed dose-response mutagenic activity and 19% showed mutagenic activity on the heater-off days. In comparison with the U.S. national ambient air standards, four out of the eight heaters investigated in this study emitted pollutants that exceeded the ambient air standards some days. These data suggested that emissions from unvented kerosene heaters can significantly impact indoor air quality in mobile homes and that these emissions contain carcinogenic compounds and can be potentially carcinogenic in humans.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA). Health Effects Research Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 6487347
- Report Number(s):
- PB-90-263179/XAB; EPA-600/D-90/122
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
MUTAGEN SCREENING
KEROSENE
COMBUSTION
MOBILE HOMES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CARBON MONOXIDE
MAN
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
SPACE HEATERS
VENTILATION
VOLATILE MATTER
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
APPLIANCES
AROMATICS
BUILDINGS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FUELS
HEATERS
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUID FUELS
MAMMALS
MATTER
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SCREENING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology