« Previous AbstractCell excitability necessary for male mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans is coordinated by interactions between big current and ether-a-go-go family K(+) channels    Next AbstractEffect of calibration environment on the performance of direct-reading organic vapor monitors »

J Air Waste Manag Assoc

Title:		Evaluation of an air sampling technique for assessing low-level volatile organic compounds in indoor environments
Author(s):		LeBouf RF; Casteel C; Rossner A;
Address:		"Environmental Science and Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, USA"
Journal Title:		J Air Waste Manag Assoc
Year:		2010
Volume:		60
Issue:		2
Page Number:		156 - 162
DOI:		10.3155/1047-3289.60.2.156
ISSN/ISBN:		1096-2247 (Print) 1096-2247 (Linking)
Abstract:		Measuring trace levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments is important for the characterization of occupant exposures. The ability to quickly collect air samples at relatively low costs per sample can increase the number of samples that can be collected and thus improve the overall assessment of potential exposures. The specific goal of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy and precision of evacuated glass bottle air samplers (Entech Bottle-Vacs) to collect representative VOC samples at part-per-billion concentrations in indoor environments. Laboratory generated data are also included to validate the precision and accuracy of the method. Multiple Bottle-Vacs in 10 residences in northern New York over 18 different sampling periods were used to collect whole-air VOC samples. Percent relative standard deviations ranged from 1.2 to 20.3% with a median of 8.8% for the 21 compounds analyzed in each Bottle-Vac. Two sampling techniques were used: around the valve (ATV) and through the valve (TTV). Linear regressions of ATV and TTV sample collection into the Bottle-Vacs show that these two sampling techniques are reproducible. Paired t test results show that ATV sampling is more reproducible than TTV; ATV paired samples were statistically the same 100% of the time whereas TTV paired samples were statistically the same 76.9% of the time. ATV sampling of low-level VOCs in indoor built environments is a reproducible chemical sampling technique that could be used by building occupants as a quick and inexpensive means of area sampling
Keywords:		"Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Environmental Monitoring/instrumentation/*methods Humidity Linear Models Organic Chemicals/*analysis Reproducibility of Results Specimen Handling;"
Notes:		"MedlineLeBouf, Ryan F Casteel, Chris Rossner, Alan eng Evaluation Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2010/03/13 J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2010 Feb; 60(2):156-62. doi: 10.3155/1047-3289.60.2.156"