A positive chemical ionization GC/MS method for the determination of airborne ethylene glycol and propylene glycols in non-occupational environments

Abstract

An analytical method for ethylene glycol and propylene glycols has been developed for measuring airborne levels of these chemicals in non-occupational environments such as residences and office buildings. The analytes were collected on charcoal tubes, solvent extracted, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using a positive chemical ionization technique. The method had a method detection limit of 0.07 µg m⁻³ for ethylene glycol and 0.03 µg m⁻³ for 1,2- and 1,3-propylene glycols, respectively, based on a 1.44 m³ sampling volume. Indoor air samples of several residential homes and other indoor environments have been analyzed. The median concentrations of ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol in nine residential indoor air samples were 53 µg m⁻³ and 13 µg m⁻³ respectively with maximum values of 223 µg m⁻³ and 25 µg m⁻³ detected for ethylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol respectively. The concentrations of these two chemicals in one office and two laboratories were at low µg m⁻³ levels. The maximum concentration of 1,3-propylene glycol detected in indoor air was 0.1 µg m⁻³.