Indoor/Outdoor Air Quality: Reference Pollutant Concentrations in Complaint-Free Residences

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Abstract
The intent of this study was to determine baseline air pollutant concentrations present in indoor environments in which occupants did not exhibit “sick building” symptoms. To accomplish this task, concentrations of particulate matter, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were determined at 17 residences in Ruston, Washington. All measurements were made inside and outside each home simultaneously, utilizing sampling techniques common within industrial hygiene, including impinger, Teflon® filter, air bag, and charcoal tube. Samples were analyzed using gravimetric and colorimeteric techniques, gas chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry, and infrared spectrophotometry. Four different space heating systems were represented within the set of homes, and each home was sampled during late summer and fall/winter. Observations from this study support previous research in illustrating that the indoor low contaminant level residential environment is more polluted than the outdoor environment. The household smoking status was generally correlated with higher particulate levels and, in most instances, higher total VOC concentrations although this observation was not always statistically significant. Indoor and outdoor particulate and VOC concentrations were higher in the fall than in the summer although particulate differences showed greater statistical significance. No other obvious relationship between VOC concentrations and the different indoor environments that were investigated was established in this study. Among the volatile organic contaminants recognized, a limited number were seen in almost all residences and were quantitated. These were toluene, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, benzene, heptane, octane, tetrachloroethene, xylenes, nonane, limonene, and undecane. It was not always possible to determine which organic compounds would be higher in a specific environment, and the total VOC concentration seemed to provide the best indication of the relative indoor air quality. Montgomery, D.D.; Kalman, D.A.: Indoor/Outdoor Air Quality: Reference Pollutant Concentrations in Complaint-free Residences. Appl. Ind. Hyg. 4:17–20; 1989.

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