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Environ Sci Pollut Res Int

Title:		"Assessment of indoor air concentrations of VOCs and their associated health risks in the library of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi"
Author(s):		Kumar A; Singh BP; Punia M; Singh D; Kumar K; Jain VK;
Address:		"School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. amit.sagarjnu2@gmail.com. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India"
Journal Title:		Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
Year:		2014
Volume:		20130918
Issue:		3
Page Number:		2240 - 2248
DOI:		10.1007/s11356-013-2150-7
ISSN/ISBN:		1614-7499 (Electronic) 0944-1344 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The present work investigated the levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX) in different microenvironments in the library of Jawaharlal Nehru University in summer and winter during 2011-2012. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks due to organic compounds were also evaluated using US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conventional approaches. Real-time monitoring was done for TVOC using a data-logging photo-ionization detector. For BTEX measurements, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standard method which consists of active sampling of air through activated charcoal, followed by analysis with gas chromatography, was performed. Simultaneously, outdoor measurements for TVOC and BTEX were carried out. Indoor concentrations of TVOC and BTEX (except benzene) were higher as compared to the outdoor for both seasons. Toluene and m/p-xylene were the most abundant organic contaminant observed in this study. Indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratios of BTEX compounds were generally greater than unity and ranged from 0.2 to 8.7 and 0.2 to 4.3 in winter and summer, respectively. Statistical analysis and I/O ratios showed that the dominant pollution sources mainly came from indoors. The observed mean concentrations of TVOC lie within the second group of the Molhave criteria of indoor air quality, indicating a multifactorial exposure range. The estimated lifetime cancer risk (LCR) due to benzene in this study exceeded the value of 1 x 10(-6) recommended by USEPA, and the hazard quotient (HQ) of non-cancer risk came under an acceptable range"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Environmental Exposure/*analysis/statistics & numerical data Environmental Monitoring/methods Humans India Libraries Seasons Universities Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis;"
Notes:		"MedlineKumar, Amit Singh, Bhupendra Pratap Punia, Monika Singh, Deepak Kumar, Krishan Jain, V K eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2013/09/21 Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014 Feb; 21(3):2240-2248. doi: 10.1007/s11356-013-2150-7. Epub 2013 Sep 18"