The transfer of trichloroethylene (TCE) from a shower to indoor air: Experimental measurements and their implications

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.1991.10466881· OSTI ID:5116136

McKone, T E; Knezovich, J P ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Livermore (United States)

Experiments were performed to measure the transfer of trichloroethylene (TCE), a volatile organic compound (VOC), from tap water in showers to indoor air. In these experiments, the loss of TCE from tap water in the shower is based on the difference between influent and effluent concentrations.We have developed and previously published a three-compartment model, which we use to simulate the 24-h concentration history of VOCs in the shower, bathroom, and remaining household volumes resulting from the use of contaminated tap water. An important input to this model is the transfer efficiency of the VOC from water to air. The experiments reveal that the transfer efficiency of TCE from shower water to air has an arithmetic mean value of 51 percent and an arithmetic standard deviation of 9 percent. Analysis of the results shows that there is no statistically significant difference between the transfer efficiency measured with hot (37C) or cold (22C) shower water and that there is no statistically significant change in transfer efficiency with time during a 20-min shower. The implications for exposure assessment are considered.

• OSTI ID: 5116136
• Journal Information: Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association; (United States), Vol. 41:8; ISSN 1047-3289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
AIR-WATER INTERACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INHALATION
POLYSTYRENE
SHOWERS
AIR POLLUTION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INTAKE
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLLUTION
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
POLYVINYLS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)