PM₁ and PM₂.₅ ionic composition and VOCs measurements in two typical apartments in Athens, Greece: investigation of smoking contribution to indoor air concentrations

During the last decades, the air quality of the city of Athens has been quite aggravated. Scientific interest has been focused on health effects caused by both outdoor and indoor air pollution. The purpose of this study was the presentation of results from air quality measurements in two similar typ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2010-08, Vol.167 (1-4), p.321-331
Main Authors: Saraga, Dikaia E, Maggos, Thomas, Helmis, Constantinos G, Michopoulos, John, Bartzis, John G, Vasilakos, Christos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis
Air quality
Air quality measurements
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Analysis
Apartments
Applied sciences
Athenian residences
Atmospheric pollution
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Benzene
Biological and medical sciences
BTX
Chromatography
Cigarettes
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental Management
Environmental Monitoring
Exact sciences and technology
Greece
Hydrocarbons
Indoor air pollution
Indoor air quality
Indoor environments
Indoor pollution and occupational exposure
Investigations
Medical sciences
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Oil and gas exploration
Outdoor air quality
Particulate matter
Particulate Matter - analysis
Pollution
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Shallow water
Smoking
Smoking - adverse effects
Studies
Suburban areas
Tobacco
Ventilation
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
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Summary:During the last decades, the air quality of the city of Athens has been quite aggravated. Scientific interest has been focused on health effects caused by both outdoor and indoor air pollution. The purpose of this study was the presentation of results from air quality measurements in two similar typical Athenian apartments in the same suburban area. In addition, smoking contribution is investigated, as it is the main factor which differentiates the two apartments. The results showed that it is the outdoor environment that mainly contributes to the air quality of the non-smokers' house. In the second apartment, PM₂.₅, PM₁, and benzene concentrations were found significantly higher due to smoking activity. In contrast, no clear difference in particulate matter ionic composition between the two areas was observed, although in the smoker's house, ion concentrations were found elevated. This observation amplifies the assumption that in the smoker's apartment, significant outdoor sources' contribution cannot be excluded.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-009-1052-0