Chemical Engineering / Kimya Mühendisliği

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/14

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  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 45
    Citation - Scopus: 48
    Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds in Chlorine-Bleach Household Products and Implications for Their Use
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2014) Odabaşı, Mustafa; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; Dumanoğlu, Yetkin; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; 03.07. Department of Environmental Engineering; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
    It was recently shown that substantial amounts of halogenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are formed in chlorine-bleach-containing household products as a result of reactions of sodium hypochlorite with organic product components. Use of these household products results in elevated indoor air halogenated VOC concentrations. Halogenated VOCs in several chlorine-bleach-containing household products (plain, n=9; fragranced, n=4; and surfactant-added, n=29) from Europe and North America were measured in the present study. Chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were the dominating compounds having average concentrations of 9.5±29.0 (average±SD) and 23.2±44.3 (average±SD) mgL-1, respectively. Halogenated VOC concentrations were the lowest in plain bleach, slightly higher in fragranced products and the highest in the surfactant-added products. Investigation of the relationship between the halogenated VOCs and several product ingredients indicated that chlorinated VOC formation is closely related to product composition. Indoor air concentrations from the household use of bleach products (i.e., bathroom, kitchen, and hallway cleaning) were estimated for the two dominating VOCs (chloroform and carbon tetrachloride). Estimated indoor concentrations ranged between 0.5 and 1030 (34±123, average±SD) μgm-3 and 0.3-1124 (82±194, average±SD) μgm-3 for chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, respectively, indicating substantial increases compared to background. Results indicated that indoor air concentrations from surfactant-added products were significantly higher (p<0.01) than other categories. The highest concentrations were from the use of surfactant-added bleach products for bathroom cleaning (92±228 and 224±334μgm-3, average±SD for chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, respectively). Associated carcinogenic risks from the use of these products were also estimated. The risk levels may reach to considerably high levels for a significant portion of the population especially for those steadily using the surfactant-added bleach products. Based on the results of the present study, it could be recommended that if possible the use of chlorine bleach containing household products should be avoided. If they are to be used, plain products should be preferred since the chlorinated VOC content increase with the number and amount of additives.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 163
    An Assessment of Indoor Air Concentrations and Health Risks of Volatile Organic Compounds in Three Primary Schools
    (Elsevier Ltd., 2011) İnal, Fikret; Aslan, Güler; İnal, Fikret; Sofuoğlu, Aysun; Sofuoğlu, Sait Cemil; 03.02. Department of Chemical Engineering; 03.07. Department of Environmental Engineering; 03. Faculty of Engineering; 01. Izmir Institute of Technology
    Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, in classrooms, kindergartens, and outdoor playgrounds of three primary schools were measured in spring, winter, and fall terms in Izmir, Turkey. A health-risk assessment was conducted for odor detection, sensory irritation, chronic toxic effects, and cancer. Active sampling was applied for VOCs and formaldehyde on Tenax TA and DNPH tubes, respectively. VOCs were analyzed in a thermal desorption-GC-MS system. Formaldehyde analysis was performed using an HPLC instrument. Benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde were the most abundant compounds with 95th percentile indoor air concentrations of 29, 87, and 106μg/m3, respectively. Naphthalene and xylenes followed them with an order of magnitude lower concentrations. Two isomers of dichlorobenzene (1,3 and 1,4) were the other notable compounds. The concentrations were utilized to classify the indoor air pollutants with respect to potential health effects. In addition, carcinogenic and chronic toxic risks were estimated using Monte-Carlo simulation. Formaldehyde appears to be the most concerning pollutant with high chronic toxic and carcinogenic risk levels according to the health assessment followed by naphthalene, benzene, and toluene due to their chronic effects.