March 2004
Indoor Fine Particles: The Role of Terpene Emissions from Consumer Products
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Golam Sarwar, David A. Olson, and Richard L. Corsi,
Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
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Charles J. Weschler,
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
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AbstractConsumer products can emit significant quantities of terpenes,
which can react with ozone (O3). Resulting byproducts
include compounds with low vapor pressures
that contribute to the growth of secondary organic aerosols
(SOAs). The focus of this study was to evaluate the
potential for SOA growth, in the presence of O3, following
the use of a lime-scented liquid air freshener, a pinescented
solid air freshener, a lemon-scented generalpurpose
cleaner, a wood floor cleaner, and a perfume. Two
chamber experiments were performed for each of these
five terpene-containing agents, one at an elevated O3
concentration and the other at a lower O3 concentration.
Particle number and mass concentrations increased and
O3 concentrations decreased during each experiment. Experiments
with terpene-based air fresheners produced the
highest increases in particle number and mass concentrations.
The results of this study clearly demonstrate that
homogeneous reactions between O3 and terpenes from
various consumer products can lead to increases in fine
particle mass concentrations when these products are
used indoors. Particle increases can occur during periods
of elevated outdoor O3 concentrations or indoor O3
generation, coupled with elevated terpene releases. Human
exposure to fine particles can be reduced by minimizing
indoor terpene concentrations or O3 concentrations.
ImplicationsThe results of this study clearly demonstrate that homogeneous
reactions between O3 and certain terpenes lead to
increases in fine particle mass concentrations. This increase
can be significant during periods of elevated outdoor
O3 concentrations or indoor O3 generation, coupled
with elevated terpene releases (e.g., from consumer products).
The resulting particle mass concentrations increase
human exposure to fine particles. Such exposure could be
reduced by avoiding indoor sources of O3 (e.g., from O3
generators marketed as air "purifiers") or by reducing the
use of consumer products that contain large quantities of
terpenes, especially during the summer O3 season.
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