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Emily Weiler
University of Montana

Subject Listing - Environmental Studies
Advisor: Dr. Tony Ward

Friday, Poster Session 4, Presentation Kiosk 17 A, Health & Fitness Center

VOC EMISSIONS IN HOMES AND ITS EFFECT ON PERSONAL HEALTH

Air Toxics Under the Big Sky is an on-going research project in western Montana that uses local area high school students to measure the concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) both inside and outside of their homes. In addition to generating VOC data, the project also elicits information on potential sources of VOCs inside the student's homes through a questionnaire, as well as optional health questions concerning the presence of asthma or allergies among family members.

For this project, concentrations of 10 VOCs were determined after Missoula High School students took personal air pumps home and sampled both inside and outside their houses. All of the concentration data were organized into one database and will now be compared with data collected with the questionnaires completed by each participating student. From this data set, this project will investigate if residential sources (stored solvents, paints, new carpeting, cars in attached garages, etc.) influence the measured concentrations of VOCs existing in people's homes. Next, we will investigate what outdoor sources may influence the measured concentrations within the homes, including traffic, construction zones, and industry. Finally, we will determine if these VOCs are connected to any respiratory problems affecting the residents.

Compound concentrations will be compared with all of these potential sources to find a useful pattern to VOC emissions. It is predicted that in homes that store solvents, paints, and glues, the VOC concentrations will be higher than those without. This should also be true for those that park vehicles in attached garages and car ports. New carpeting should have an impact on the concentrations along with homes that heat with fireplaces as opposed to gas or electricity. Next, outdoor sources will be evaluated, including observed construction, industry pollution and traffic. With constructive data on VOC emissions within homes, steps can be taken to educate the public and limit the amount of VOC compounds present, hopefully leading to a reduction of asthma and allergy cases in Missoula.

Advisor: Dr. Tony Ward, Research Assistant Professor, Center for Environmental Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT