Residential water-soluble organic gases: chemical characterization of a substantial contributor to indoor exposures

Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2019 Aug 14;21(8):1364-1373. doi: 10.1039/c9em00105k.

Abstract

Characterization of residential indoor air is important to understanding exposures to airborne chemicals. While it is well known that non-polar VOCs are elevated indoors, polar VOCs remain poorly characterized. Recent measurements showed that total polar water-soluble organic gas (WSOG) concentrations are also much higher indoors than directly outdoors (on average 15× greater at 13 homes, on a carbon-mass basis). This work aims to chemically characterize these WSOG mixtures. Acetic, lactic, and formic acids account for 41% on average (30-54% across homes), of the total WSOG-carbon collected inside each home. Remaining WSOGs were characterized via high-resolution positive-mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In total, 98 individual molecular formulas were detected. On average 67% contained the elements CHO, 11% CHN, 11% CHON, and 11% contained sulfur, phosphorus, or chlorine. Some molecular formulas are consistent with compounds having known indoor sources such as diethylene glycol (m/z+ 117.091, C4H10O3), hexamethylenetetramine (m/z+ 141.113, C6H12N4), and methacrylamide (m/z+ 86.060, C4H7NO). Exposure pathways, potential doses, and implications are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis*
  • Gases / analysis
  • Gases / chemistry*
  • Housing / standards*
  • Humans
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Gases
  • Water