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Chemosphere

Title:		Volatile organic compounds in selected micro-environments
Author(s):		Hinwood AL; Berko HN; Farrar D; Galbally IE; Weeks IA;
Address:		"Centre for Ecosystem Management, School of Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup 6027, Western Australia, Australia. a.hinwood@ecu.edu.au"
Journal Title:		Chemosphere
Year:		2006
Volume:		20051111
Issue:		3
Page Number:		421 - 429
DOI:		10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.08.038
ISSN/ISBN:		0045-6535 (Print) 0045-6535 (Linking)
Abstract:		"A program of sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air was undertaken in selected locations and micro-environments in Perth, Western Australia to characterise concentrations of target VOCs and to determine the relative strength of the contributing sources to ambient air in different micro-environments in a major Australian city. Twenty-seven locations were sampled and, of the forty-one target compounds, 26 VOCs were detected in the samples collected. The highest concentrations were recorded for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), chloroform and styrene. The maximum 12-h toluene and benzene concentrations observed were from a basement carpark and were 24.7 parts per billion (ppb) and 5.6 ppb, respectively. The maximum xylenes concentration was 29.4 ppb and occurred in a nightclub where styrene was also detected. A factor analysis of the data was undertaken. Two key factors emerge that appear to be associated with petroleum and motor vehicles and environmental tobacco smoke. A third significant occurrence was a high concentration of chloroform that was observed at a sports centre complex with a swimming pool text and was uncorrelated with other compounds in the data set. This study indicates that locations associated with motor vehicles and petrol fuel, tobacco and wood smoke and chlorinated water represent the major risks for personal exposure to VOCs in Perth"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Environmental Monitoring Gasoline Housing Humans Occupational Exposure/analysis Organic Chemicals/*analysis Restaurants Smoke Tobacco Vehicle Emissions Volatilization Western Australia Wood Workplac;"
Notes:		"MedlineHinwood, A L Berko, H N Farrar, D Galbally, I E Weeks, I A eng England 2005/11/18 Chemosphere. 2006 Apr; 63(3):421-9. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2005.08.038. Epub 2005 Nov 11"