Personal exposure assessment through measurement and modelling
Personal exposure to NO2
People spend most of their time (~80%) indoors. They are exposed to air pollution from a range of indoor and outdoor sources. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is hazardous to health, can be significant in both types of environments. This project focussed on the measurement and analysis of indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations and their comparison with measured personal exposure of office workers in Hertfordshire, UK during winter 2000 and summer 2001. The overall aim of the study was to determine the relationship between NO2 personal exposure of the office workers from indoor and outdoor sources and their activities patterns. Personal, indoor and outdoor measurements of NO2 were conducted with Palmes tubes for 50 subjects. A simple time weighted activity model was developed to estimate the personal exposure to NO2.
Development of a SVOC sampler for personal exposure measurements
It is now recognised that indoor environments contribute significantly to human exposure to airborne pollutants. There are many indoor sources that are not present outdoors. Among the chemicals released in indoor environments, some of them have been identified as hormonally active or carcinogens. Indoor air pollution problems are likely to become more as stricter controls limit outdoor pollution levels. Reduction of air exchange rate and the use of new insulating materials are likely to contribute to the build-up of pollutants in indoor air. The objective of this project has been to develop an analytical method based on thermal desorption for the measurement of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) to be use for indoor and personal measurements. The analytical technique was based on thermal desorption to compensate for the low sampling volumes available with the personal sampling pump so that the entire sample can be injected on the analytical system. In addition, the current technique reduces the analytical time and cost because little sample handling is required and it is more environmental friendly because no solvents are used.
Co-located samplers inside the apartment
Selected references
Kornartit C. Measurement and Analysis of Personal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide from Indoor and Outdoor Sources. PhD Thesis 2005, University of Hertfordshire.
Fagault Y. A thermal desorption method for determining atmospheric Semi-Volatile Organic Compound concentrations. PhD Thesis (2008). University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with INERIS (France)
Acknowledgements
This work has been funded by INERIS (France)