Grantee Research Project Results
In-home Formation of Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Implications for Human Exposure and Indoor Air Quality
EPA Grant Number: U915929Title: In-home Formation of Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Implications for Human Exposure and Indoor Air Quality
Investigators: Olson, David A.
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: January 1, 2001 through January 1, 2002
Project Amount: $83,146
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Fellowship - Civil Engineering , Academic Fellowships , Safer Chemicals
Objective:
This research project involves the measurement of halogenated volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from residential dishwashers. Recent studies have shown that drinking water can be an important source of indoor air pollution, and that for many chemicals, a much greater risk is posed when these chemicals are emitted from residential water sources and are inhaled (i.e., relative to risks by ingestion). Ingestion has traditionally been regarded as the most important exposure pathway for these chemicals. Preliminary results indicate that inhalation exposure to chloroform from dishwashers is several times that of ingestion exposure. The objectives of this research project are to: (1) characterize chemical emissions from dishwashers experimentally; and (2) complete an exposure assessment comparing dishwashers with other sources of chlorinated organics.
Approach:
Liquid and gas samples will be collected for each experiment. All liquid samples will be analyzed using a purge and trap autosampler plumbed to a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a mass selective detector (MSD). Gas samples will be collected by drawing headspace air through Tenax™ adsorbent tubes. Gas samples also will be analyzed using a GC/MSD. Other parameters that will be measured include total organic carbon, free and total chlorine, UV-254 absorbance, liquid temperature, air headspace temperature, and pH.
Supplemental Keywords:
fellowship, volatile organic compounds, VOCs, emissions, residential dishwaters, dishwasher emissions, human exposure, exposure, air, air quality, air pollution, ingestion, ingestion exposure, exposure pathway, inhalation, inhalation exposure, total organic carbon, TOC., Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Risk Assessments, Environmental Chemistry, indoor air, air toxics, Chemicals, indoor air quality, chlorinated organics, residential water usage, residential dishwashers, human exposure, indoor exposure, household, indoor VOC compounds, exposure, ambient air, chlorinated VOCs, VOCs, home, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), human health risk, indoor air chemistryProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.