Issue 8, 2019

Residential water-soluble organic gases: chemical characterization of a substantial contributor to indoor exposures

Abstract

Characterization of residential indoor air is important to understanding exposures to airborne chemicals. While it is well known that non-polar VOCs are elevated indoors, polar VOCs remain poorly characterized. Recent measurements showed that total polar water-soluble organic gas (WSOG) concentrations are also much higher indoors than directly outdoors (on average 15× greater at 13 homes, on a carbon-mass basis). This work aims to chemically characterize these WSOG mixtures. Acetic, lactic, and formic acids account for 41% on average (30–54% across homes), of the total WSOG-carbon collected inside each home. Remaining WSOGs were characterized via high-resolution positive-mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In total, 98 individual molecular formulas were detected. On average 67% contained the elements CHO, 11% CHN, 11% CHON, and 11% contained sulfur, phosphorus, or chlorine. Some molecular formulas are consistent with compounds having known indoor sources such as diethylene glycol (m/z+ 117.091, C4H10O3), hexamethylenetetramine (m/z+ 141.113, C6H12N4), and methacrylamide (m/z+ 86.060, C4H7NO). Exposure pathways, potential doses, and implications are discussed.

Graphical abstract: Residential water-soluble organic gases: chemical characterization of a substantial contributor to indoor exposures

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Feb 2019
Accepted
09 May 2019
First published
03 Jun 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2019,21, 1364-1373

Residential water-soluble organic gases: chemical characterization of a substantial contributor to indoor exposures

Sara M. Duncan, K. Sexton, L. Collins and B. J. Turpin, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2019, 21, 1364 DOI: 10.1039/C9EM00105K

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