Passive sampling to control air quality in schools: Uptake rate determination and application. 2020

Laura Vallecillos, and Anna Borrull, and Rosa Maria Marcé, and Francesc Borrull
Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Water, Air and Soil Unit, Eurecat, Tarragona, Spain.

In this paper, we provide a detailed description of the application of passive sampling with Carbopack X tubes followed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) to determine the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different school environments. The main objective of the study was to monitor VOCs in seven indoor and three outdoor environments at a school in Tarragona, Spain. However, in order to obtain more accurate information, it was necessary to determine the experimental diffusive uptake rates of the target VOCs in indoor settings through parallel passive and active sampling in one classroom. The results showed experimental diffusive uptake rates in the range of 0.38 mL min-1 and 0.95 mL min-1 with RSD % below 5% for up to 44 VOCs. The monitoring results showed that ethanol (23.84-83.16 µg m-3 ) and isopropyl alcohol (5.42-25.92 µg m-3 ) were the most common compounds found in indoor environments, with cleaning products as the main emission source. The VOCs i-pentane and n-pentane were found at the highest concentrations in the three sampling sites set in the school's playground, and their concentrations were strictly related to combustion processes from automobile traffic.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008401 Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry A microanalytical technique combining mass spectrometry and gas chromatography for the qualitative as well as quantitative determinations of compounds. Chromatography, Gas-Liquid-Mass Spectrometry,Chromatography, Gas-Mass Spectrometry,GCMS,Spectrometry, Mass-Gas Chromatography,Spectrum Analysis, Mass-Gas Chromatography,Gas-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry,Mass Spectrometry-Gas Chromatography,Chromatography, Gas Liquid Mass Spectrometry,Chromatography, Gas Mass Spectrometry,Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry-Gas,Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Gas,Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Gas-Liquid,Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry,Gas Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry,Mass Spectrometry Gas Chromatography,Spectrometries, Mass-Gas Chromatography,Spectrometry, Gas Chromatography-Mass,Spectrometry, Gas-Liquid Chromatography-Mass,Spectrometry, Mass Gas Chromatography,Spectrometry-Gas Chromatography, Mass,Spectrum Analysis, Mass Gas Chromatography
D010420 Pentanes Five-carbon saturated hydrocarbon group of the methane series. Include isomers and derivatives. Isopentanes
D004058 Diffusion The tendency of a gas or solute to pass from a point of higher pressure or concentration to a point of lower pressure or concentration and to distribute itself throughout the available space. Diffusion, especially FACILITATED DIFFUSION, is a major mechanism of BIOLOGICAL TRANSPORT. Diffusions
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D000327 Adsorption The adhesion of gases, liquids, or dissolved solids onto a surface. It includes adsorptive phenomena of bacteria and viruses onto surfaces as well. ABSORPTION into the substance may follow but not necessarily. Adsorptions
D000397 Air Pollution The presence of contaminants or pollutant substances in the air (AIR POLLUTANTS) that interfere with human health or welfare, or produce other harmful environmental effects. The substances may include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; or volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS. Air Quality,Air Pollutions,Pollution, Air
D012574 Schools Educational institutions. Primary Schools,Schools, Secondary,Secondary Schools,Primary School,School,School, Primary,School, Secondary,Schools, Primary,Secondary School
D013030 Spain Country located between France on the northeast and Portugal on the west and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital is Madrid. Balearic Islands,Canary Islands
D016902 Air Pollution, Indoor The contamination of indoor air. Air Quality, Indoor,Indoor Air Pollution,Indoor Air Quality,Pollution, Indoor Air
D055549 Volatile Organic Compounds Organic compounds that have a relatively high VAPOR PRESSURE at room temperature. Volatile Organic Compound,Compound, Volatile Organic,Compounds, Volatile Organic,Organic Compound, Volatile,Organic Compounds, Volatile

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