Simultaneous measurement of air exchange and VOC concentrations: Tests in vehicles, houses and garages

Abstract

An updated method was used to determine air flows and effective air exchange rates (AER) over long periods (hours to weeks) using a constant injection of perfluorocarbon tracers (PFT), sampling of the PFT with a thermally desorbed adsorbents that is analyzed by GC/MS. In 15 garages tested over 4-day periods, AER averaged 0.74 ± 0.53 hr and 36 different VOC were quantified, including some at high levels, e.g., benzene levels reached 159 μg/cu m in one garage. In 15 single family houses, the AER averaged 0.41 ± 0.35/hr, and attached garages accounted for 6.5 ± 5.3% of the exchange. This coupling led to significant and undesirable migration of pollutants from the garage, largely evaporated gasoline, into the house. The method has the distinct advantages of measuring AER and airflows in several zones, along with measurements of other VOC. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the AWMA Associations 99th Annual Conference and Exhibition 2006 (New Orleans, LA 6/20-23/2006).

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA

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