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Detection of volatile organic compounds indicative of human presence in the air
Author(s) -
Kwak Jae,
Geier Brian A.,
Fan Maomian,
Gogate Sanjay A.,
Rinehardt Sage A.,
Watts Brandy S.,
Grigsby Claude C.,
Ott Darrin K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of separation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.72
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1615-9314
pISSN - 1615-9306
DOI - 10.1002/jssc.201500261
Subject(s) - isoprene , volatile organic compound , chemistry , acetone , breath gas analysis , environmental chemistry , mass spectrometry , chromatography , gas chromatography , thermal desorption , gas chromatography–mass spectrometry , human skin , desorption , organic chemistry , adsorption , biology , copolymer , genetics , polymer
Volatile organic compounds were collected and analyzed from a variety of indoor and outdoor air samples to test whether human‐derived compounds can be readily detected in the air and if they can be associated with human occupancy or presence. Compounds were captured with thermal desorption tubes and then analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Isoprene, a major volatile organic compound in exhaled breath, was shown to be the best indicator of human presence. Acetone, another major breath‐borne compound, was higher in unoccupied or minimally occupied areas than in human‐occupied areas, indicating that its majority may be derived from exogenous sources. The association of endogenous skin‐derived compounds with human occupancy was not significant. In contrast, numerous compounds that are found in foods and consumer products were detected at elevated levels in the occupied areas. Our results revealed that isoprene and many exogenous volatile organic compounds consumed by humans are emitted at levels sufficient for detection in the air, which may be indicative of human presence.