Issue 12, 2022

Real-time measurements of product compounds formed through the reaction of ozone with breath exhaled VOCs

Abstract

Human presence can affect indoor air quality because of secondary organic compounds formed upon reactions between gaseous oxidant species, e.g., ozone (O3), hydroxyl radicals (OH), and chemical compounds from skin, exhaled breath, hair and clothes. We assess the gas-phase product compounds generated by reactions of gaseous O3 with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from exhaled human breath by real time analysis using a high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometer (HRMS) coupled to a secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) source. Based on the product compounds identified we propose a reaction mechanism initiated by O3 oxidation of the most common breath constituents, isoprene, α-terpinene and ammonia (NH3). The reaction of O3 with isoprene and α-terpinene generates ketones and aldehydes such as 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone, methyl vinyl ketone, 3-carbonyl butyraldehyde, formaldehyde and toxic compounds such as 3-methyl furan. Formation of compounds with reduced nitrogen containing functional groups such as amines, imines and imides is highly plausible through NH3 initiated cleavage of the C–O bond. The detected gas-phase product compounds suggest that human breath can additionally affect indoor air quality through the formation of harmful secondary products and future epidemiological studies should evaluate the potential health effects of these compounds.

Graphical abstract: Real-time measurements of product compounds formed through the reaction of ozone with breath exhaled VOCs

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 aug 2022
Accepted
07 nov 2022
First published
22 nov 2022

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022,24, 2237-2248

Real-time measurements of product compounds formed through the reaction of ozone with breath exhaled VOCs

X. Xu, H. Pang, C. Liu, K. Wang, G. Loisel, L. Li, S. Gligorovski and X. Li, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2022, 24, 2237 DOI: 10.1039/D2EM00339B

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