Indoor/Outdoor measurements of volatile organic compounds in the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · JAPCA, the International Journal of Air Pollution Control and Hazardous Waste Management; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1989.10466593· OSTI ID:7004671

Cohen, M A; Ryan, P B; Yanagisawa, Y; Spengler, J D ^[1]; Oezkaynak, H ^[2]; Epstein, P S ^[3]

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1. Harvard Univ., Boston, MA (USA)
2. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (USA)
3. Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc., Novi, MI (USA)

The Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia which is comprised of Charleston and surrounding communities is the center of a heavily industrialized area known for its chemical manufacturing. As part of a larger study designed to investigate the impact of the chemical industry on human exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC), a study of the relationship between indoor and outdoor concentrations was conducted. Thirty-five homes were selected for monitoring from among volunteers; approximately ten in each of three distinct population-industry centers and four outside the Valley to act as controls. Monitoring was performed using passive, badge samplers with a three-week monitoring period. Two separate questionnaires were administered: one for characterization of the residence; and one to characterize source used during monitoring. Participants were also asked to keep a record of their activities with respect to in-home, outdoors and other indoor environments. Analysis of the samplers was performed by solvent extraction followed by gas chromatography using a flame-ionization detector. Results suggest that indoor VOC concentrations are higher than outdoor concentrations. Additionally, certain ventilation-related parameters were identified that afforded some predictive power for indoor concentrations. No statistically significant differences between regions were identified.

• OSTI ID: 7004671
• Journal Information: JAPCA, the International Journal of Air Pollution Control and Hazardous Waste Management; (USA), Journal Name: JAPCA, the International Journal of Air Pollution Control and Hazardous Waste Management; (USA) Vol. 39:8; ISSN JIJME; ISSN 0894-0630
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXTRACTION
FEDERAL REGION III
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MATTER
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
USA
VOLATILE MATTER
WEST VIRGINIA