United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Atmospheric Research and Exposure
Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangle Park. NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-90/010 May 1990
Project Summary
Compendium of
Methods for the Determination
of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air
William T Winberry, Jr., Linda Forehand, Norma T. Murphy, Angela Ceroli,
Barbara Phinney, and Ann Evans
The objective of this project was to
develop a Compendium of Methods
for the Determination of Air
Pollutants in Indoor Air. The
Compendium has been prepared to
provide regional, state and local
environmental regulatory agencies
with step-by-step sampling and
analysis procedures for the
determination of selected pollutants
in indoor air. This guide assists those
persons responsible for sampling
and analysis of indoor pollutants.
Determination of pollutants in
indoor air is a complex task, primarily
because of the wide variety of
compounds of interest and the lack
of standardized sampling and
analysis procedures. The
Compendium has been prepared to
provide a standardized format for
such analytical procedures. A core
set of ten chapters, with each
chapter containing one or more
methods, are presented in the
current document. The current
methods may be modified from time
to time as advancements are made.
The Compendium covers a variety
of active and passive sampling
procedures, as well as several
analytical techniques both on and off
site. Consequently, many indoor
pollutants can be sampled and
analyzed by several techniques, often
with different interferences and
detection limitations. This allows the
user flexibility in selecting pro-
cedures to complement his or her
background and laboratory capability.
This Project Summary was
developed by EPA's Atmospheric
Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
NC, to announce key findings of the
research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of
the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
In recent years, greatly increased
attention has been focused on the quality
of indoor air. Most people spend a major
portion of their time indoors, in living
areas, offices or other workplaces, stores,
restaurants, waiting rooms, public
buildings, public or private transportation
vehicles, etc. Obviously, then, exposure
to indoor air pollutants can constitute an
important fraction of a person's total
exposure to air pollution.
In addition to penetration of outdoor
pollutants into the indoor environment,
indoor air pollutants may originate from
many sources, including various indoor
activities, use of many different types of
appliances, tools, and substances, and
outgassing of various types of
construction and decoration materials.
Indoor air pollutants include a wide
variety of compounds and typically occur
in concentrations and mixtures that
generally vary greatly over time and from
one area to another and are often
episodic in nature. Consequently, human
exposures are difficult to assess for both
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individuals and groups. This difficulty is
further complicated by restrictions in the
sampling and measurement techniques
that can be used indoors due to
limitations in the physical size, noise, air
flow rates, power consumption,
installation, etc. of the apparatus used.
Not surprisingly, there has been a lack of
standardized procedures for sampling
and analysis of indoor air pollutants,
particularly for very low concentrations of
indoor air contaminants.
To date, little guidance has been
available to state and local agencies or to
other organizations concerned with the
determination of indoor air pollutants. As
a result, state and local agencies and
others responding to indoor air pollution
problems have had to develop their own
monitoring strategies, including selection
of monitoring methods, sampling plan
design, and specific procedures for
sampling, analysis, logistics, calibration,
and quality control. For the most part,
these procedures were based on
professional judgments rather than
adherence to any documented uniform
guidelines. Many governmental agencies
and professional or research
organizations have developed indoor air
monitoring methods and procedures,
mostly to respond to specialized needs.
But these methods and procedures have
generally been neither standardized nor
readily available to other agencies
involved with indoor air monitoring.
The objective of this project was to
develop and standardize such methods
and publish them in a document entitled
"Compendium of Methods for the
Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor
Air."
Structure of Compendium
Over the last year, the Atmospheric
Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory (AREAL), Quality Assurance
Division (QAD), of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) has funded
Engineering-Science (ES) for research
and development of the "Compendium of
Methods for the Determination of Air
Pollutants in Indoor Air" under Contract
68-02-4398, Work Assignment #32. This
Compendium has been prepared to
provide regional, state, and local
environmental regulatory agencies, as
well as other interested parties, with
specific guidance on the determination of
selected air pollutants in indoor air. The
ten chapters of the Compendium cover
those contaminants (as well as ventilation
rate) that are considered to be of primary
interest in indoor air monitoring efforts.
These ten chapters address:
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Nicotine
• Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon
dioxide (C02)
• Air exchange rate
• Nitrogen dioxide (N02)
• Formaldehyde (CH20)
• Benzo(a)pyrene and other
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
• Acid gases and aerosols (NOX, SOX,
and NH3)
• Particulate matter
• Pesticides
Each chapter contains one or more
methods for measuring the parameter,
including sampling and/or analysis
techniques, calibration, quality assurance,
and other pertinent topics. These
methods have been compiled from the
best elements of methods developed or
used by various research or monitoring
organizations. They are presented in a
standardized format, and each has been
extensively reviewed by several technical
experts having expertise in the
methodology used. Nearly all the
procedures have some flexibility,
however, and it is the user's
responsibility to prepare certain standard
operating procedures (SOPs) to be
employed in their particular laboratory.
Each procedure indicates those
operations for which SOPs are required.
As advancements are made in the
methodology, current methods for other
contaminants may be added as such
methods become available. Each method
has been identified with a revision date
so that future modifications or updates to
the methods can be identified.
Table 1 lists the procedures contained
in the Compendium, and Table 2
presents a partial listing of indoor
pollutants which can be determined using
those procedures. Many of the
procedures may be used to determine
other toxic organics not indicated in
Table 2. The user must be cautioned to
evaluate the applicability of the method
for that specific toxic organic analyte
before use.
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Table 1. List of Methods in the Compendium
Method Number
IP-1A
IP-1B
IP-2A
IP-2B
IP-3A
IP-3B
IP-3C
IP-4A
IP-4B
IP-5A
IP-SB
IP-5C
IP-6A
IP-6B
IP-6C
IP-7
IP-8
IP-9
IP-10A
IP-10B
Description
Stainless Steel Canister
Solid Adsorbent Tubes
XAD-4 Sorbent Tube
Treated Filter Cassette
Nondispersive Infrared (NDIR)
Gas Filter Correlation (GFC)
Electrochemical Oxidation
Perfluorocarbon Tracer (PTF)
Tracer Gas
Continuous Luminox Monitor
Palmes Diffusion Tube
Passive Sampling Device
Solid Adsorbent Cartridge
Continuous Color/metric Analyzer
Passive Sampling Device
Medium Volume PUF XAD-2
Sampler
Low Volume PUF Sampler followed
by GC/ECD Detection
Annular Denuder System
Size-Specific Impaction
Continuous Part/cut ate Monitor
Types of Compounds Determined
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
(e.g., aromatic hydrocarbons,
chlorinated hydrocarbons) having
boiling points in the range of 80° to
200°C
Nicotine (gaseous and particulate)
Carbon monoxide and/or carbon
dioxide
Air exchange rate
Nitrogen oxides
Formaldehyde (CH2O) and other
aldehydes/'ketones
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
Pesticides (e.g., Organochlorine,
Organophosphorus, Urea, Pyrethrin,
Carbamate, and Triazine)
Acid Gases/Aerosols/Particles (e.g.,
nitrates, sulfates, and ammonia)
Particulate Matter
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Table 2. List of Compounds of Primary Interest
Volatile Organic Compounds - Methods IP-1A, IP-1B
Toluene (Methyl benzene)
1,2-Dibromomethane (Ethylene dibromide)
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
Chlorobenzene (Phenyl chloride)
Ethylbenzene
m-Xylene (1,3-Dimethlbenzene)
p-Xylene (1,4-Dimethylbenzene)
Styrene (Vinyl benzene)
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
0-Xylene (1,2-Dimethylbenzene)
4-Ethyltoluene
1,3,5- Trimethylbenzene (Mesitylene)
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (Pseudocumene)
m-Dichlorobenzene (1,3-Dichlorobenzene)
Benzyl chloride (-Chlorotoluene)
o-Dichlorobenzene (1,2- Dichlorobenzene)
p-Dichlorobenzene(l,4- Dichlorobenzene)
1,2,4- Trichlorobenzene
Hexachlorobutadiene (1, l,2,3,4,4-Hexachloro-l,3-
butadiene)
(1-Methylethyl) Benzene
Butylbenzene
1 -Methyl-4-( 1-Methylethyl) Benzene
Bromobenzene
1 -Ethyl-4-Chlorobenzene
Bromochloromethane
Bromotrichloromethane
1 -Chloropropane
2-Chloropropane
2,3-Dichlorobutane
i,4-Dichloro-2-Butane (cis)
3,4 -Dichloro -1 -Butane
Tetrahydrofuran
1,4- Dioxane
1 -Chloro-2,3-Epoxypropane
Benzaldehyde
Benzonitrile
Pentachloroethane
Bromoethane
1 -Phenylethanone
1,1-Dichloroethane (Ethylidene dichloride)
Inorganics - Methods IP-3A, IP-3B, IP-3C, IP-5A, IP-SB, IP-5C, IP-9, IP-10A, IP-10B
Freon 12 (Dichlorodifluoromethane)
Methyl chloride (Chloromethane)
Freon 114 (1, 2 - Dichloro-1,1,2,2- tetrafluoroethane)
Vinyl Chloride (Chloroethylene)
Methyl bromide (Bromomethane)
Ethyl chloride (Chloroethane)
Freon 11 (Trichlorofluoromethane)
Vinylidene chloride (1,2-Dichloroethane)
Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride)
Freon 113 (1,1,2-Trichloro-l,2 2-trifluoroethane)
Tribromomethane
cis-l,2-Dichloroethylene
Chloroform (Trichloromethane)
1,2-Dichloroethane (Ethylene dichloride)
Methyl chloroform (1,1,1-Trichloroethane)
Benzene (Cyclohexatriene)
Carbon tetrachloride (Tetrachloromethane)
1,2-Dichloropropane (Propylene dichloride)
Trichloroethylene (Trichloroethane)
cis-i,3-Dichloropropene
1,2 -Dichloropropane
1,3-Dichloropropane
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
1 -Bromo-3-chloropropane
3-Chloro-l -propene
1,2-Dibromopropane
2-Chlorobutane
1,3-Dichlorobutane
1,4- Dichlorobutane
Dichloropropylene
1,1,2-Trichloroethane (Vinyl trichloride)
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Trichloroethene
2-Chloroethoxyethene
1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane
Ammonia (Ammonium)
Nitrogen dioxide
Nitric acid
Nitrous acid
Sulfuric acid
Acenaphthene
Acenaphthylene
Anthracene
Benzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo(e)pyrene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
Sulfite
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon dioxide
Particulate matter
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Method IP-7
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
Chrysene
Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene
Fluoranthene
Fluorene
lndeno(i,2,3-cd)pyrene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene
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Table 2. List of Compounds of Primary Interest (Continued)
Pesticides - Method IP-8
Orga
Methoxychlor
Orqanochlorine Organochlorine
Aldri"
P,P,-DDT
o'P;l trans-Nonachlor
?!eldnn Oxychlordane
i*°J°r *,i ». i Pentachlorobenzene
2,4,5-Tr/chlorophenol Folpet
Pentachlorophenol Heptachlor
BHC (a- and 0 - Hexachlorocyclohexanes) Heptachlor epoxide
*Plai} ^ Hexachlorobenzene
™ ?*,' te?hnical Lindane (y-BHC)
Chlorothalonil *
2, 4, -D esters
Organophosphorus Ureas
Chlorpyrifos Monuron
D,uron
Dichlorvos (DDVP) UurQn
Ethyl parathion Terbuthiuro
u I,'0" , Fluometuron
Methyl parath,on Chlortoluron
Ronnel
Carbamates Pyrethrin
Pr°P°x"1' Pyrethrin I
Carbofuran Pyrethrin II
Bendtcarb Allethrin
Mexacarbate d-trans-Allethnn
Carbary' Dicocrotophos
Resmethrin
Fenvalerate
Other
o- pheny,pheno,
Propazine
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) - Methods IP-2A, IP-2B
Nicotine (particle and gaseous)
Aldehydes and Ketones - Methods IP-6A, IP-6B, IP-6C
Formaldehyde Acetaldehyde
Acrolem Acetone
Pn°pi°"ald,e*yde Crotonaldehyde
Butyraldehyde Benzaldehyde
Valeraldehyde
m-Tolualdehyde
n M Hexanaldehyde
,5-Dimethylbenzaldehyde
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William T. Winberry, Jr., Linda Forehand, Nor ma T. Murphy, Angela Ceroli,
Barbara Phinney, and Ann Evans are with Engineering-Science, Inc., Cary,
NC 27511
F.F. McElroy , LJ. Purdue and C. Rhodes are the EPA Project Officers (see
below).
The complete report, entitled "Compendium of Methods for the Determination of
Air Pollutants in Indoor Air," (Order No. PB90-200 288/AS; Cost: $74.00,
sub/ect to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officers can be contacted at:
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States Center for Environmental Research
Environmental Protection Information
Agency Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S4-90/010
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