DIFFUSIVE SAMPLING OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN AMBIENT AIR

The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has been using diffusive sam plers for the study of VOCs in indoor and outdoor air since 1989. The Perkin Elmer type sampler packed with Tenax TA adsorbent is used for t he diffusive sampling of C-6-C-16 organic compounds. This method was a pplied in a major study of relationships between the environment and c hild health carried out during 1990-1993 in the Avon area of the UK. T he present paper reports results of an investigation into the repeatab ility of the sampler in outdoor air and measurements of 6 aromatic hyd rocarbons inside and outside a home over a 5 year period and inside an d outside an office building over a 12 month period. Both the home and the office were located in Hertfordshire, England Concentrations of V OCs recorded are similar to those found in the Avon area. Higher conce ntrations of each of the six compounds were recorded inside the home t han outside, whilst greater amounts of benzene and toluene were found inside the office than outside. Seasonal variations in concentrations are observed and measurements recorded outdoors are similar to those r ecorded by other workers.