Indoor Air Quality
VOC detection and monitoring
VOCs are emitted by normal household products,
construction materials, furniture and many chemicals
used in our everyday lives. Many of which are
known to be harmful to human health or at least to cause unpleasant odors. Chemical contamination of indoor air is a contributing factor to the so called "Sick Building Syndrome".
Levels of VOC exposure vary widely depending on the volume of air in the room, the car, the plane, the office building, the workplace etc. and may range from sub-pptv levels to percent. Different Materials used have specific rates of VOC emissions. The ventilation of the room as well as the outdoor air concentration have to be taken into account too.
Results of PTR-MS measurements - indoor air quality levels
Some VOCs relevant for the indoor air quality and
easily quantifiable with PTR-MS are (detection limit as low as 5 pptv): Benzene, Toluene, Xylene.
PTR-MS Control, the software package of Ionicon Analytik,
enables the versatile use of PTR-MS instruments. Different
operating modes allow scans of one, a few or all masses
versus time, or the detection of a whole mass range at a
specific time. Variable input parameters of the
environment are accounted for.
PTR-MS can help to ensure better air quality through analyzing the air polluting VOCs in real-time.
VOCs in aircraft passenger cabins - ozone-initiated chemistry measured with PTR-MS
Scientists have conducted studies to analyze the ozone-initiated chemistry in an occupied simulated aircraft cabin using a IONICON PTR-MS.
A recent study by Weschler et al* suggests interactions between body oils and ozone, leading to chemical byproducts that might have impact on nasal irritation, headaches, dry eyes and lips and other common air traveler complaints. These byproducts have successfully been measured in real-time and in very low concentrations with a IONICON PTR-MS.
Ozone was added to cabin air by scientists during simulated 4-hour flights that were conducted in a reconstructed section of a B-767 aircraft containing human occupants. Most byproducts were derived from surface reactions with occupants and their clothing. Among the measured VOCs were nonanal and decanal, a pair of aldehyde compounds associated with headaches, nasal irritation and with others symptoms of "sick building" syndrome.
The study may have implications on future passenger comfort as it might influence the industry to install and maintain filter solutions in all commercial aircraft and to conduct further studies monitoring the relevant VOCs continuously.
*C. J . Weschler, A. Wisthaler, S. Cowlin, G. Tamas, P. Strom-Tejsen, A. T. Hodgson, H. Destaillats, J. Herrington, J. Zhang, W. W. Nazaroff.
Related Links:
Publication in the ACS' Environmental Science & Technology journal.
Article in The New York Times.
Related document:
Download an application flyer on indoor air quality control (0.2 MB .pdf)
