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The Mass Concentration and Elemental Composition of Indoor Aerosols in Suffolk and Onondaga Counties, New York
Author(s) -
Leaderer Brian P.,
Koutrakis Petros,
Briggs Susan L. K.,
Rizzuto Joseph
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1994.t01-3-00004.x
Subject(s) - stove , aerosol , environmental chemistry , mass concentration (chemistry) , environmental science , kerosene , indoor air quality , particulates , chemistry , environmental engineering , geography , archaeology , organic chemistry
Indoor and outdoor aerosol sampling was conducted in two New York State Counties, Suffolk and Onondaga, during the period of January 6 and April 15, 1986. Week‐long fine particle mass samples were collected indoors and outdoors for a total of 596 samples taken in 394 homes. The aerosol samples were analyzed by X‐ray fluorescence for the following elements: Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Cd, and Pb. Lastly, aerosol mass concentrations were determined gravimetrically. Homes included in this study had one or more of the following sources: cigarette smoking, kerosene heaters, wood burning and gas stoves. Homes with none of the above sources were also included. Comparisons between mass and elemental concentrations among the different home groups allowed the investigation of the elemental profiles and importance of the indoor sources. From the five investigated sources, cigarette smoking was found to be the most important, and to a lesser extent, kerosene heaters. Finally, gas stoves did not contribute to the observed indoor aerosol mass and elemental concentrations, but other unknown indoor sources did contribute to indoor aerosol concentrations. Room‐to‐room differences in mass and elemental concentrations were also investigated. The results of these analyses suggested that concentrations measured in the living area and kitchen are identical, within analytical errors. Therefore, the indoor environment can be characterized as well mixed.