Behavior of Isocyanic Acid and Other Nitrogen-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds in The Indoor Environment

Wang, Chen5,6,7; Mattila, James M.1,2; Farmer, Delphine K.1; Arata, Caleb3; Goldstein, Allen H.3,4; Abbatt, Jonathan P. D.5

2022-06-21

10.1021/acs.est.1c08182

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY   Impact Factor & Quartile

0013-936X

1520-5851

Isocyanic acid (HNCO) and other nitrogen-containing volatile chemicals (organic isocyanates, hydrogen cyanide, nitriles, amines, amides) were measured during the House Observation of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry (HOMEChem) campaign. The indoor HNCO mean mixing ratio was 0.14 +/- 0.30 ppb (range 0.012-6.1 ppb), higher than outdoor levels (mean 0.026 +/- 0.15 ppb). From the month-long study, cooking and chlorine bleach cleaning are identified as the most important human-related sources of these nitrogen-containing gases. Gas oven cooking emits more isocyanates than stovetop cooking. The emission ratios HNCO/CO (ppb/ppm) during stovetop and oven cooking (mean 0.090 and 0.30) are lower than previously reported values during biomass burning (between 0.76 and 4.6) and cigarette smoking (mean 2.7). Bleach cleaning led to an increase of the HNCO mixing ratio of a factor of 3.5 per liter of cleaning solution used; laboratory studies indicate that isocyanates arise via reaction of nitrogen-containing precursors, such as indoor dust. Partitioned in a temperature-dependent manner to indoor surface reservoirs, HNCO was present at the beginning of HOMEChem, arising from an unidentified source. HNCO levels are higher at the end of the campaign than the beginning, indicative of occupant activities such as cleaning and cooking; however the direct emissions of humans are relatively minor.

indoor air isocyanic acid organic isocyanates nitrogen containing VOCs cooking bleach cleaning

SCI ; EI

English

NI Journal Papers

Corresponding

Engineering ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Engineering, Environmental ; Environmental Sciences

WOS:000815698900001

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

20222512247223

Amides ; Amines ; Bleaching ; Industrial chemicals ; Mixing ; Organic chemicals ; Ovens ; Volatile organic compounds

Chemical Operations:802.3 ; Chemical Agents and Basic Industrial Chemicals:803 ; Chemical Products Generally:804 ; Organic Compounds:804.1 ; Papermaking Processes:811.1.1

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Colorado State Univ, Dept Chem, Ft Collins, CO 80523 USA
2.US EPA, Durham, NC 27709 USA
3.Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Environm Sci Policy & Management, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
4.Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Civil & Environm Engn, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
5.Univ Toronto, Dept Chem, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
7.Guangdong Prov Observat & Res Stn Coastal Atmosph, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Wang, Chen,Mattila, James M.,Farmer, Delphine K.,et al. Behavior of Isocyanic Acid and Other Nitrogen-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds in The Indoor Environment[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,2022,56(12):7598-7607.

Wang, Chen,Mattila, James M.,Farmer, Delphine K.,Arata, Caleb,Goldstein, Allen H.,&Abbatt, Jonathan P. D..(2022).Behavior of Isocyanic Acid and Other Nitrogen-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds in The Indoor Environment.ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,56(12),7598-7607.

Wang, Chen,et al."Behavior of Isocyanic Acid and Other Nitrogen-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds in The Indoor Environment".ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 56.12(2022):7598-7607.