MULTISORBENT THERMAL-DESORPTION GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY/MASS SELECTIVE DETECTION METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TARGET VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN INDOOR AIR

A thermal desorption/gas chromatography/mass selective detection method using Tenax and Carbotrap multisorbent cartridges for the determination of 28 target volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is described. Techniques used for method validation include determination of limit of detection, limit of quantitation, repeatability, room temperature storage stability, breakthrough volume, and sampler collection efficiency. In addition, 3-ethenylpyridine (3-EP), a pyrolysis product of nicotine, is investigated as a suitable marker for environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Experiments conducted in an environmental chamber at five different ventilation rates are used to determine 3-EP ratios to selected VOC analytes. These ratios are used to apportion the contribution of ETS to indoor air VOCs. Field results from four smoking and four nonsmoking homes are presented to illustrate the ET'S apportionment technique. Selected analyte apportionment indicates that ETS contributes a fraction of the target VOCs in homes with smoking activity.