Abstract
Acrolein, a volatile, unsaturated aldehyde, is a known respiratory toxicant and one of the 188 most hazardous air pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA. A newly developed analytical method was used to determine residential indoor air concentrations of acrolein and other volatile aldehydes in nine homes located in three California counties (Los Angeles, Placer, Yolo). Average indoor air concentrations of acrolein were an order of magnitude higher than outdoor concentrations at the same time. All homes showed similar diurnal patterns in indoor air concentrations, with acrolein levels in evening samples up to 2.5 times higher than morning samples. These increases were strongly correlated with temperature and cooking events, and homes with frequent, regular cooking activity had the highest baseline (morning) acrolein levels. High acrolein concentrations were also found in newly built, uninhabited homes and in emissions from lumber commonly used in home construction, suggesting indoor contributionsfrom off-gassing and/or secondary formation. The results provide strong evidence that human exposure to acrolein is dominated by indoor air with little contribution from ambient outdoor air.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6940-6946 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Environmental Science and Technology |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 15 2007 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Chemistry
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Origin, occurrence, and source emission rate of acrolein in residential indoor air. / Seaman, Vincent Y.; Bennett, Deborah H.; Cahill, Thomas.
In: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 41, No. 20, 15.10.2007, p. 6940-6946.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Origin, occurrence, and source emission rate of acrolein in residential indoor air
AU - Seaman, Vincent Y.
AU - Bennett, Deborah H.
AU - Cahill, Thomas
PY - 2007/10/15
Y1 - 2007/10/15
N2 - Acrolein, a volatile, unsaturated aldehyde, is a known respiratory toxicant and one of the 188 most hazardous air pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA. A newly developed analytical method was used to determine residential indoor air concentrations of acrolein and other volatile aldehydes in nine homes located in three California counties (Los Angeles, Placer, Yolo). Average indoor air concentrations of acrolein were an order of magnitude higher than outdoor concentrations at the same time. All homes showed similar diurnal patterns in indoor air concentrations, with acrolein levels in evening samples up to 2.5 times higher than morning samples. These increases were strongly correlated with temperature and cooking events, and homes with frequent, regular cooking activity had the highest baseline (morning) acrolein levels. High acrolein concentrations were also found in newly built, uninhabited homes and in emissions from lumber commonly used in home construction, suggesting indoor contributionsfrom off-gassing and/or secondary formation. The results provide strong evidence that human exposure to acrolein is dominated by indoor air with little contribution from ambient outdoor air.
AB - Acrolein, a volatile, unsaturated aldehyde, is a known respiratory toxicant and one of the 188 most hazardous air pollutants identified by the U.S. EPA. A newly developed analytical method was used to determine residential indoor air concentrations of acrolein and other volatile aldehydes in nine homes located in three California counties (Los Angeles, Placer, Yolo). Average indoor air concentrations of acrolein were an order of magnitude higher than outdoor concentrations at the same time. All homes showed similar diurnal patterns in indoor air concentrations, with acrolein levels in evening samples up to 2.5 times higher than morning samples. These increases were strongly correlated with temperature and cooking events, and homes with frequent, regular cooking activity had the highest baseline (morning) acrolein levels. High acrolein concentrations were also found in newly built, uninhabited homes and in emissions from lumber commonly used in home construction, suggesting indoor contributionsfrom off-gassing and/or secondary formation. The results provide strong evidence that human exposure to acrolein is dominated by indoor air with little contribution from ambient outdoor air.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=35348865072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=35348865072&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/es0707299
DO - 10.1021/es0707299
M3 - Article
C2 - 17993132
AN - SCOPUS:35348865072
VL - 41
SP - 6940
EP - 6946
JO - Environmental Science & Technology
JF - Environmental Science & Technology
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 20
ER -