MONITORING AND CHARACTERISATION OF SUSPENDED AND SETTLED INDOOR PARTICULATE MATTER

9th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference - SGEM2009, www.sgem.org, SGEM2009 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN 10: 954-91818-1-2, June 14-19, 2009, Vol. 2, 343-350 pp

ABSTRACT

The presence of aerosol particles is strongly related with increased morbidity and
mortality even at the ordinary aerosol concentration levels that occur in the urban
environment. Aerosols contamination of indoor environment can originate from both
outdoor and indoor sources (cooking, smoking etc.). Dangerous effect of particles
consists in their penetration and deposition into human respiratory system. Because of
inhalation exposure not only particulate size is important, but also particulate matter’s
chemical composition implies toxic health effect on human organism.

The paper is aimed to the both settled and suspended particulate mater investigation in
selected residential building in Kosice city in Slovakia. Settled particulate matter
sampling was carried out by passive method, suspended particulate matter sampling was
focused on total suspended particles (TSP) and thoracic fraction PM10. The surface
concentrations of settled particulate matter were in range from 276,43 mg/cm2 to 570,70
mg/cm2 detected, mass concentrations of total suspended particulate matter from 59,
028 to 114, 583 mg/m3. The presence of selected metals in samples was detected by
atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The morphology was studied by scanning
electron microscopy (SEM).

Keywords: particulate matter, aerosol, indoor, PM10