| Title: | Air exchange rates and migration of VOCs in basements and residences |
| Author(s): | Du L; Batterman S; Godwin C; Rowe Z; Chin JY; |
| Address: | "Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland. School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Friends of Parkside, Detroit, MI, USA. New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1600-0668 (Electronic) 0905-6947 (Print) 0905-6947 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Basements can influence indoor air quality by affecting air exchange rates (AERs) and by the presence of emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants. We characterized VOC levels, AERs, and interzonal flows between basements and occupied spaces in 74 residences in Detroit, Michigan. Flows were measured using a steady-state multitracer system, and 7-day VOC measurements were collected using passive samplers in both living areas and basements. A walk-through survey/inspection was conducted in each residence. AERs in residences and basements averaged 0.51 and 1.52/h, respectively, and had strong and opposite seasonal trends, for example, AERs were highest in residences during the summer, and highest in basements during the winter. Airflows from basements to occupied spaces also varied seasonally. VOC concentration distributions were right-skewed, for example, 90th percentile benzene, toluene, naphthalene, and limonene concentrations were 4.0, 19.1, 20.3, and 51.0 mug/m(3), respectively; maximum concentrations were 54, 888, 1117, and 134 mug/m(3). Identified VOC sources in basements included solvents, household cleaners, air fresheners, smoking, and gasoline-powered equipment. The number and type of potential VOC sources found in basements are significant and problematic, and may warrant advisories regarding the storage and use of potentially strong VOCs sources in basements. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Few IAQ studies have examined basements. A sizable volume of air can flow between the basement and living area, and AERs in these two zones can differ considerably. In many residences, the basement contains significant emission sources and contributes a large fraction of VOC concentrations found in the living area. Exposures can be lowered by removing VOC sources from the basement; other exposure management options, such as local ventilation or isolation, are unlikely to be practical" |
| Keywords: | "Air Movements Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Housing Humans Michigan Models, Theoretical Seasons Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Air exchange rate Basement Gasoline Interzonal flows Transport Volatile organic compounds;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineDu, L Batterman, S Godwin, C Rowe, Z Chin, J-Y eng P30 ES017885/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ R01 ES014566/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ P30ES017885/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ R01-ES014566-01A1/S1/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural England 2015/01/21 Indoor Air. 2015 Dec; 25(6):598-609. doi: 10.1111/ina.12178. Epub 2015 Jan 20" |
