The report gives results of a preliminary assessment of exposure to pollutants from domestic combustion sources, some of which emit airborne particulate matter (PM), CO, and polycyclic organic matter (POM) near human receptors. Transient ambient concentrations of these pollutants at the receptor (and the corresponding time-averaged exposures) have been determined for the following domestic combustion sources: lawn mowing, chain sawing, charcoal cooking, indoor gas cooking, and indoor side-stream smoke. An experimental test program utilizing personal monitoring equipment was conducted to acquired data for the lawn mower, chain saw, and charcoal grill sources. Literature data were used to assess the indoor sources of gas cooking and side-stream smoke. Transient ambient concentrations of total suspended particulate (TSP) matter encountered were as high as 35 times the 24 hour secondary ambient air quality standard of 150 micrograms/cu m for TSP. However, large quanties on noncombustion-related PM on the filters (e.g., grass particles, sawdust), concurrent lower values of ambient CO relative to ambient air quality CO standards, and the absence of detectable POM indicate that these sources probably do not result in exposures to combustion-generated pollutants that are relatively significant.

Project Officer: John O. Milliken. TRC - Environmental Consultants, Inc. "April 1980." Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-42). "EPA-600/7-80-084."