Wildfire Impact on Indoor and Outdoor PAH Air Quality
Christine C. Ghetu, Diana Rohlman, Brian Smith, Richard P. Scott, Kaley A. Adams, Peter D. Hoffman, Kim A. Anderson
Abstract
< 0.001). Indoor PAH concentrations were higher in 77% of samples across all sampling events. Even during wildfires, 58% of sampled locations still had higher indoor PAH air concentrations. When AQI values exceeded 140 (unhealthy for sensitive groups), outdoor PAH concentrations became similar to or higher than indoors. Cancer and noncancer inhalation risk estimates from vapor-phase PAHs were higher indoors than outdoors, regardless of the wildfire impact. Consideration of indoor air quality and vapor-phase PAHs could inform public health recommendations regarding wildfires.
Topics & Concepts
Environmental scienceAir quality indexIndoor air qualityVapor phaseParticulatesEnvironmental chemistryAir monitoringEnvironmental healthMeteorologyAtmospheric sciencesEnvironmental engineeringGeographyChemistryMedicineThermodynamicsPhysicsOrganic chemistryGeologyToxic Organic Pollutants ImpactAir Quality and Health ImpactsAtmospheric chemistry and aerosols