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Water-soluble organic gases in residential indoor air and the potential for aqueous chemistry indoors to alter exposures
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Duncan, Sara. Water-soluble organic gases in residential indoor air and the potential for aqueous chemistry indoors to alter exposures. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3ZS30ZD

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TitleWater-soluble organic gases in residential indoor air and the potential for aqueous chemistry indoors to alter exposures
NameDuncan, Sara (author); Turpin, Barbara (chair); Weisel, Clifford (internal member); Mainelis, Gediminas (internal member); Weschler, Charles (outside member); Rutgers University; School of Graduate Studies
Date Created2018
Other Date2018-05 (degree)
SubjectEnvironmental Sciences
Extent1 online resource (xiv, 186 p. : ill.)
DescriptionDampness occurs in 18 to 50% of homes in the United States and is associated with negative health effects. Currently, mold and mildew only partially explain these health outcomes (Mendell et al., 2011). Could aqueous chemistry indoors play a role? This dissertation explores the presence of water-soluble organic gases (WSOGs) indoors. Which WSOGs have already been reported? Which WSOGs are expected to be present indoors? How will aqueous chemistry on surfaces, in particles, and elsewhere indoors affect indoor chemistry? First, the literature was searched for previously measured WSOG. Additional WSOG likely to be present from direct emission sources indoors as well as WSOG formed from gas-phase oxidation chemistry were proposed. Then, using knowledge of aqueous chemistry in outdoor air and the current understanding of indoor chemistry, the plausibility of aqueous chemistry to occur indoors was postulated. Integrated samples of WSOGs were collected inside and directly outside thirteen homes. WSOGs were found to be on average 15 times higher indoors than outdoors (Duncan et al., 2018), meaning most WSOGs are emitted or formed indoors. About 50% of this WSOG can be attributed to formic, acetic, and lactic acids. The rest consists of iii 67% CHO, 11% CHN, 11% CHON, and 11% sulfur-, phosphorus-, or chlorinecontaining compounds. WSOGs were also measured in real time in one home. Acetic and formic acids were found to decrease 30 – 50% at the onset of the central air conditioner cycling on. Lactic acid strongly correlated with human occupancy and cooking. Several other compounds were characterized on the molecular level that also cycled with the air conditioner. Measurements were also taken briefly outside the home which illuminated that some compounds had primarily indoor sources while others had primarily outdoor sources. Dose estimates were calculated for WSOG and found that infants and young children will receive elevated doses compared to adults under the same conditions. Subsequent health implications were discussed. Recent advancements in the field of indoor chemistry were provided, and future directions of research proposed. Ultimately, this work furthers our understanding of indoor chemistry and therefore exposure and may provide future insights into observed negative health effects in homes.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Sara Duncan
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3ZS30ZD
Languageeng
CollectionSchool of Graduate Studies Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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