ASSESSMENT OF A PASSIVE SAMPLER FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ALDEHYDES AND KETONES IN INDOOR AIR

A diffusive sampler which is commercially available for the determinat ion of formaldehyde in air was investigated for its suitability for th e determination of other carbonyl compounds. The potential of the samp ler for collecting carbonyl compounds including acetaldehyde, acrolein , pentane-3-one and acetone has been demonstrated in the laboratory. W hen exposed to tobacco smoke acetaldehyde was found to be the most abu ndant carbonyl compound present. Initial investigations into the uptak e rate of the sampler were carried out by exposing the sampler to a kn own concentration of acetaldehyde in a minichamber and in a 1 m3 test chamber. A complete validation of the sampler has not been undertaken but initial experiments suggest that uptake rate decreases with increa sing exposure time and increasing acetaldehyde concentration. For a 72 hour exposure period and an acetaldehyde concentration of 0.07 mug l- 1 the uptake rate of the sampler was 7.0 ml min-1 with a detection lim it of 0.003 mug l-1. The sampler was used to study acetaldehyde concen trations in 57 homes using a 72 hour exposure period and concentration s were found to range from <0.003 to 0.023 mug l-1. There was no signi ficant difference between homes occupied by smokers and non-smokers. I t is concluded that the sampler is suitable for measuring acetaldehyde and possibly other carbonyls in indoor air though further validation of performance is required.