| Title: | Ethanol-based disinfectant sprays drive rapid changes in the chemical composition of indoor air in residential buildings |
| Author(s): | Jiang J; Ding X; Isaacson KP; Tasoglou A; Huber H; Shah AD; Jung N; Boor BE; |
| Address: | "Lyles School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States. Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, Center for High Performance Buildings, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States. Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States. RJ Lee Group Inc., Monroeville, PA, United States. Edelweiss Technology Solutions, LLC, Novelty, OH, United States" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.hazl.2021.100042 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2666-9110 (Electronic) 2666-9110 (Print) 2666-9110 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased usage of ethanol-based disinfectants for surface inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in buildings. Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particles from ethanol-based disinfectant sprays were characterized in real-time (1 Hz) via a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) and a high-resolution electrical low-pressure impactor (HR-ELPI+), respectively. Ethanol-based disinfectants drove sudden changes in the chemical composition of indoor air. VOC and particle concentrations increased immediately after application of the disinfectants, remained elevated during surface contact time, and gradually decreased after wiping. The disinfectants produced a broad spectrum of VOCs with mixing ratios spanning the sub-ppb to ppm range. Ethanol was the dominant VOC emitted by mass, with concentrations exceeding 10(3) mug m(-3) and emission factors ranging from 10(1) to 10(2) mg g(-1). Listed and unlisted diols, monoterpenes, and monoterpenoids were also abundant. The pressurized sprays released significant quantities (10(4)-10(5) cm(-3)) of nano-sized particles smaller than 100 nm, resulting in large deposited doses in the tracheobronchial and pulmonary regions of the respiratory system. Inhalation exposure to VOCs varied with time during the building disinfection events. Much of the VOC inhalation intake (>60 %) occurred after the disinfectant was sprayed and wiped off the surface. Routine building disinfection with ethanol-based sprays during the COVID-19 pandemic may present a human health risk given the elevated production of volatile chemicals and nano-sized particles" |
| Keywords: | Building disinfection COVID-19 pandemic Indoor contaminant mass transport Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry Volatile organic compounds; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEJiang, Jinglin Ding, Xiaosu Isaacson, Kristofer P Tasoglou, Antonios Huber, Heinz Shah, Amisha D Jung, Nusrat Boor, Brandon E eng Netherlands 2022/01/04 J Hazard Mater Lett. 2021 Nov; 2:100042. doi: 10.1016/j.hazl.2021.100042. Epub 2021 Sep 8" |
