Characterizing PM Emissions and Temporal Evolution of Organic Composition from Incense Burning in a California Residence.

The chemical composition of incense-generated organic aerosol in residential indoor air has received limited attention in Western literature. In this study, we conducted incense burning experiments in a single-family California residence during vacancy. We report the chemical composition of organic fine particulate matter (PM), associated emission factors (EFs), and gas-particle phase partitioning for indoor semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Speciated organic PM measurements were made using two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-HR-ToF-MS) and semivolatile thermal desorption aerosol gas chromatography (SV-TAG). Organic PM EFs ranged from 7 to 31 mg g for burned incense and were largely comprised of polar and oxygenated species, with high abundance of biomass-burning tracers such as levoglucosan. Differences in PM EFs and chemical profiles were observed in relation to the type of incense burned. Nine indoor SVOCs considered to originate from sources other than incense combustion were enhanced during incense events. Time-resolved concentrations of these SVOCs correlated well with PM mass ( > 0.75), suggesting that low-volatility SVOCs such as bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate partitioned to incense-generated PM. Both direct emissions and enhanced partitioning of low-volatility indoor SVOCs to incense-generated PM can influence inhalation exposures during and after indoor incense use.