DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN INDOOR AND AMBIENT AIROF RESIDENCES IN KUWAIT

Air samples from 19 Kuwaiti residences were collected on tenax-TA sorb ent cartridges and analyzed using adsorption/thermal desorption couple d with flame ionization detector/gas chromatography. The study include d the identification of around 47 target compounds using the above tec hnique. With the exception of Freons, the target compounds were usuall y detected at 100 to 5000 mu g/m(3) in indoor and outdoor air samples. Organics identified were aromatics, and aromatic and aliphatic haloge nated hydrocarbons. The objective of this study was to identify and me asure the Volatile Organic Compounds as well as to identify the source s wherever possible. Information regarding the homes, residents in the respective homes, and activities during the sampling period were gath ered using a questionnaire. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.