SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1993
STP13112S

Modeling Individual Exposure from Indoor Sources

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Individual exposure to air pollutants is determined by the behavior of indoor sources and sinks and activity patterns. This paper discusses a model that allows analysis of individual exposure for a wide range of sources and sinks. Emphasis of the discussion is on exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from commonly used sources. The effects of source and sink behavior on exposure are complex. Important factors include source strength, source decay rate, rates to the sink, re-emissions from the sink, and building operation parameters such as ventilation rate. Sources provide the primary exposure and dominate exposure while the source strength is strong. Sinks modify exposure by reducing peak concentrations and, because of re-emissions from sinks, by increasing the time of relatively high concentrations. Exposures from several different sources are analyzed both with and without sinks and under a range of different building operation scenarios. The need for standard scenarios in evaluating the effects of sources on individual exposure is discussed. Model concentration predictions are compared with data from an indoor air quality (IAQ) test house.

Author Information

Sparks, LE
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
Tichenor, BA
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
White, JB
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
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Details
Developed by Committee: D22
Pages: 245–256
DOI: 10.1520/STP13112S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5251-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1875-1