title: Calibration of two passive air samplers for monitoring phthalates and brominated flame-retardants in indoor air.
abstract: Two passive air samplers (PAS), polyurethane foam (PUF) disks and Sorbent Impregnated PUF (SIP) disks, were characterized for uptake of phthalates and brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) indoors using fully and partially sheltered housings. Based on calibration against an active low-volume air sampler for gas- and particle-phase compounds, we recommend generic sampling rates of 3.5±0.9 and 1.0±0.4 m(3)/day for partially and fully sheltered housing, respectively, which applies to gas-phase phthalates and BFRs as well as particle-phase DEHP (the later for the partially sheltered PAS). For phthalates, partially sheltered SIPs are recommended. Further, we recommend the use of partially sheltered PAS indoors and a deployment period of one month. The sampling rate for the partially sheltered PUF and SIP of 3.5±0.9 m(3)/day is indistinguishable from that reported for fully sheltered PAS deployed outdoors, indicating the role of the housing outdoors to minimize the effect of variable wind velocities on chemical uptake, versus the partially sheltered PAS deployed indoors to maximize chemical uptake where air flow rates are low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Amandeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Okeme
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goosey
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: miriam.diamond@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Miriam L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D054879:Halogenation; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated / Q000032:analysis*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006842:Hydrocarbons, Brominated; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D011140:Polyurethanes; C032279:phthalic acid; C028279:polyurethane foam
keywords: Flame-retardants; PUFs; Passive sampling; Phthalates; SIPs