Human Ammonia Emission Rates under Various Indoor Environmental Conditions.

Ammonia (NH) is typically present at higher concentrations in indoor air (∼10-70 ppb) than in outdoor air (∼50 ppt to 5 ppb). It is the dominant neutralizer of acidic species in indoor environments, strongly influencing the partitioning of gaseous acidic and basic species to aerosols, surface films, and bulk water. We have measured NH emissions from humans in an environmentally controlled chamber. A series of experiments, each with four volunteers, quantified NH emissions as a function of temperature (25.1-32.6 °C), clothing (long-sleeved shirts/pants or T-shirts/shorts), age (teenagers, adults, and seniors), relative humidity (low or high), and ozone (<2 ppb or ∼35 ppb). Higher temperature and more skin exposure (T-shirts/shorts) significantly increased emission rates. For adults and seniors (long clothing), NH emissions are estimated to be 0.4 mg h person at 25 °C, 0.8 mg h person at 27 °C, and 1.4 mg h person at 29 °C, based on the temperature relationship observed in this study. Human NH emissions are sufficient to neutralize the acidifying impacts of human CO emissions. Results from this study can be used to more accurately model indoor and inner-city outdoor NH concentrations and associated chemistry.