Pentachlorophenol in indoor environments. Correlation of PCP concentrations in air and settled dust from floors.

The investigation of settled dust is a proven and simple screening-method for considering indoor contamination for semivolatile compounds. Here we investigate the correlation of PCP concentrations in air and freshly settled dust from floors. Air and dust samples were taken from 75 rooms in 30 buildings with suspicion of an application of PCP-containing wood preservatives. Sampling was repeated four times within 18 months. PCP air concentrations were found in the range of <0.3-576 ng m-3 (mean value 25.3 ng m-3, median 2.5 ng m-3). PCP dust concentrations were found in the range of 0.083-79 microg g-1 (mean value 3.5 microg g-1, median 1.1 microg g-1. A weak highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001) with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.433, of the PCP concentration in dust with the PCP concentration in air, was observed. Measurement of PCP concentrations in dust, therefore, is a suitable screening method for the evaluation of indoor contamination with PCP. Due to the high dispersion of the data it is not possible to calculate PCP concentrations in air from concentrations in dust although a highly significant correlation of the PCP concentrations in air and dust was found.