Evaluation of an air sampling technique for assessing low-level volatile organic compounds in indoor environments.

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Evaluation of an air sampling technique for assessing low-level

volatile organic compounds in indoor environments.

LeBouf RF, Casteel C, Rossner A.

J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2010 Feb;60(2):156- 62.

Environmental Science and Engineering, son University, Potsdam, NY,

USA.

Abstract

Measuring trace levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor

environments is important for the characterization of occupant exposures. The

ability to quickly collect air samples at relatively low costs per sample can

increase the number of samples that can be collected and thus improve the

overall assessment of potential exposures. The specific goal of this paper is to

evaluate the accuracy and precision of evacuated glass bottle air samplers

(Entech Bottle-Vacs) to collect representative VOC samples at part-per-billion

concentrations in indoor environments. Laboratory generated data are also

included to validate the precision and accuracy of the method. Multiple

Bottle-Vacs in 10 residences in northern New York over 18 different sampling

periods were used to collect whole-air VOC samples. Percent relative standard

deviations ranged from 1.2 to 20.3% with a median of 8.8% for the 21 compounds

analyzed in each Bottle-Vac. Two sampling techniques were used: around the valve

(ATV) and through the valve (TTV). Linear regressions of ATV and TTV sample

collection into the Bottle-Vacs show that these two sampling techniques are

reproducible. Paired t test results show that ATV sampling is more reproducible

than TTV; ATV paired samples were statistically the same 100% of the time

whereas TTV paired samples were statistically the same 76.9% of the time. ATV

sampling of low-level VOCs in indoor built environments is a reproducible

chemical sampling technique that could be used by building occupants as a quick

and inexpensive means of area sampling.

PMID: 20222528 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]