PubMed · 10231967
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D J Burton. 1999. Estimating air changes.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10231967/
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Increases in platinum group element (PGE) concentrations in ambient air and dust since the introduction of automotive catalytic converters in 1988 is a cause of concern. Until now, data derived from engine-test bench experiments have provided the basis for the assessment of human health risks associated with PGE exposure. Such experiments have provided valuable information regarding emission data that has been used to estimate ambient exposure concentrations. However, these data are not necessarily representative of typical environmental PGE exposure levels and conditions. Data on measured environmental concentrations is needed to provide a more adequate basis for the assessment of exposure and related risks. Twenty air and airborne-dust samples were provided by the Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency, Germany) in the years 1988, 1989, 1992, 1997, and 1998. The samples were collected in Frankfurt/Main and the adjacent city of Offenbach. For this, 11 to 80 m3 of air were filtered over a 24-72 h period using a vacuum. Glass-fiber filters were used to collect samples. Sample platinum and rhodium concentrations were determined using adsorptive voltammetry. Although the number of samples collected in different years is limited, the results indicate a trend toward continuous increases in ambient concentrations of these metals between 1988 and 1998. Specifically, there were 46- and 27-fold increases in Pt and Rh concentrations, respectively. Despite these observed increases, the Pt concentrations measured (i.e., 147 pg/m3 on average, with a maximum of 246 pg/m3 in 1998) fell far below 15,000 pg/m3, which has been suggested as a guidance value (i.e., exposure at this level would be expected to be without appreciable health risk). The results of a particle-size distribution analysis of one sample (8-step impactor) that was collected 150 m away from a street show that approximately 75% of Pt and 95% of Rh occurs in association with large particulate matter of > 2 microns, with concentrations reaching a maximum in particles of 4.7 to 5.8 microns. The remaining 25% of Pt and 5% of Rh is present in fine particulate matter of < 2 microns. An approximate 10% of Pt and < 38% of Rh in airborne particles was found to be soluble in 0.1 molar HCl. Further, the results indicate that most of the emitted PGE particles from automotive catalytic converters, particularly those bound to fine particulate matter, are capable of being airborne. As a result, PGEs are not only present in areas close to emissions (e.g., roads), but can be transported over longer distances.
Because people spend approximately 85-90% of their time indoors, it is widely recognized that a significant portion of total personal exposures to ambient particles occurs in indoor environments. Although penetration efficiencies and deposition rates regulate indoor exposures to ambient particles, few data exist on the levels or variability of these infiltration parameters, in particular for time- and size-resolved data. To investigate ambient particle infiltration, a comprehensive particle characterization study was conducted in nine nonsmoking homes in the metropolitan Boston area. Continuous indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and size distribution measurements were made in each of the study homes over weeklong periods. Data for nighttime, nonsource periods were used to quantify infiltration factors for PM2.5 as well as for 17 discrete particle size intervals between 0.02 and 10 microns. Infiltration factors for PM2.5 exhibited large intra- and interhome variability, which was attributed to seasonal effects and home dynamics. As expected, minimum infiltration factors were observed for ultrafine and coarse particles. A physical-statistical model was used to estimate size-specific penetration efficiencies and deposition rates for these study homes. Our data show that the penetration efficiency depends on particle size as well as home characteristics. These results provide new insight on the protective role of the building shell in reducing indoor exposures to ambient particles, especially for tighter (e.g., winterized) homes and for particles with diameters greater than 1 micron.
The trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) performance for the removal of high-strength styrene was evaluated under different gas flow rates and influent concentrations. Under pseudo-steady-state conditions, the elimination capacity increased but the removal efficiency decreased with the increase of styrene loading. More than 90 and 80% removal efficiencies were achieved for influent styrene loadings below 32 and 55g/m(3)/h, respectively. The TBAB appears to be an effective treatment process for controlling high-strength styrene emission under low-to-medium loading conditions, and the effectiveness could be maintained over 140 days of laboratory operation.