Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and ambient air of residences in Kuwait

Air samples from 19 Kuwaiti residences were collected on tenax-TA sorbent cartridges and analyzed using adsorption/thermal desorption coupled with flame ionization detector/gas chromatography. The study included the identification of around 47 target compounds using the above technique. With the exception of Freons, the target compounds were usually detected at 100 to 5000 mu g/m(3) in indoor and outdoor air samples. Organics identified were aromatics, and aromatic and aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons. The objective of this study was to identify and measure the Volatile Organic Compounds as well as to identify the sources wherever possible. Information regarding the homes, residents in the respective homes, and activities during the sampling period were gathered using a questionnaire. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.