Study on suspended particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air.

To study changes in the concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in indoor and outdoor air, a new portable sampler (AND sampler) was designed that could separately collect particles exhibiting aerodynamic diameters of greater than 10 microns, 2-10 microns, and less than 2 microns. The relationship between the airborne particle concentration in indoor air and that in outdoor air varied with the aerodynamic diameter of the particles. The concentration of SPM in the indoor air increased in proportion to that in the outdoor air. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in SPM also varied with the aerodynamic diameter of the particles. Fine particles exhibiting an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2 microns contained high concentration of PAH. The concentrations of benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and benzo(ghi)perylene in indoor air increased in proportion to those in outdoor air.