Detection of and Protection from Extreme VOC "Spikes" Generated during Everyday Cooking, Cleaning, and Artistic Activities

Sonam Devabhaktuni, Sathyaraj Devabhaktuni, DEVABHAKTUNI SRIKRISHNA, Patient Knowhow, Inc.

     Abstract Number: 488
     Working Group: Indoor Air Purification Technologies, Best Practices, and their Health Impacts

Abstract
Prior work characterized extreme levels of VOC generation during cooking such as when frying oils/fats. However, using low-cost TVOC counters we discovered extremely high levels of VOC generated ("spikes") during everyday cooking, cleaning, artistic activities in a duration-dependent and distance-dependent manner. These activities included toasting bread, opening bags of pastries, peeling oranges fruits, opening chocolate ice cream containers, cleaners / disinfectants, opening alcohol containers, and alcohol-based markers. The spikes observed came as a surprise to many which were liked and shared on Twitter (https://twitter.com/sri_srikrishna/status/1668840882613948416). Whereas spikes were not detected during some other common cooking and artistic activities. In many instances, ventilation using outside air reduces these spikes but most models of home air cleaners (filtration) tested even with carbon included were insufficient to rapidly clear up VOC spikes during the activity. Only two models of home air cleaners (filtration) which included several pounds of activated carbon were able to predictably reduce VOC with measurable air changes per hour (ACH). In this research, we present a test matrix of TVOC measurements of spikes observed during a range of everyday cooking activities using both a more expensive and lower-cost VOC monitors, nearby and at a distance, in presence of different levels of air cleaning (with ventilation with fan connected to open window, VOC air filtration). Given the unpredictability of spikes based on the activity, duration, and distance these results motivate wider use of low-cost VOC counters to offer real-time warning of potentially risky spikes, both close up and at a distance. These warnings can be used to selectively initiate (trigger) VOC air cleaning for indoor occupants at a distance, and if air cleaning of indoor VOC is inadequate, personal protection such as P100 elastomeric respirators with organic vapor cartridges to protect those with direct exposure to VOC spikes at close range.