Contaminated Smog Chambers in Air Pollution Research

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Abstract
Interlaboratory comparisons of various smog chambers have shown poor quantitative agreement in the results of the irradiation of simple model systems. A “dirty” chamber may be responsible for the observed disagreement. The effects of contaminated chamber walls were evidenced in the photooxidation of biacetyl and tetramethylethylene. Ozone was observed when biacetyl was irradiated in the presence of oxides of nitrogen or when irradiated in a dirty chamber. When photodissociated in a clean borosilicate flask, with no oxides of nitrogen present, ozone was not observed. Tetramethylethylene when irradiated in a dirty borosilicate flask underwent reaction. No reaction occurred in a clean flask. As long as chamber walls are not cleaned between runs, contaminants will be liberated and the problem of agreement in results from various smog chambers will remain.