AAAR 32nd Annual Conference
September 30 - October 4, 2013
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Particulate Reactive Oxygen Species in Retail Stores in Austin, Texas
SHAHANA KHURSHID, Kerry Kinney, Jeffrey Siegel, The University of Texas at Austin
Abstract Number: 306 Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract Precursors to reactive oxygen species (ROS) are ubiquitous in indoor environments. Despite this, there is little information in the literature on the indoor concentrations of ROS. This study reports on the ROS concentration in retail stores, since they present an environment where large numbers of people may be exposed to stocks of consumer goods, several of which emit reactive organic compounds. Almost eight million people work as retail salespeople and cashiers in the U.S., and 43% of the population shops daily in retail stores. Sampling was conducted in five retail stores in Austin, Texas, including grocery, furniture and general merchandise stores. ROS on PM$_(2.5) was assessed as particles in this size range can carry ROS deep into the lungs, potentially leading to the greatest health effects. In addition to indoor and outdoor concentrations of ROS on PM$_(2.5), ventilation rates and indoor and outdoor air quality parameters were also assessed at the stores. The indoor concentration of ROS on PM$_(2.5) (expressed in terms of a representative ROS, hydrogen peroxide (H$_2O$_2)) ranged from 0.02 nanomoles H$_2O$_2/m$^3 air sampled (at a general merchandise store) to 3.36 nmoles/m$^3 (at a grocery store). The indoor ROS concentration at all stores was seen to vary from day to day, possibly due to changes in indoor activities, ventilation rates, and outdoor pollutant concentrations. The mean indoor concentration of ROS on PM$_(2.5) (1.09+/-0.93 nmoles/m$^3) was not significantly different from the outdoor concentration (1.12+/-1.09 nmoles/m$^3), although this may be partially due to high variation. The range of concentrations measured in retail stores was similar to that in a residential sample. Given that the indoor concentrations of ROS are similar to those in outdoor environments, and that people spend the bulk of their time in indoor environments, it is important to note that indoor exposure to ROS likely dominates total exposure.