Analysis of indoor air emissions: From building materials to biogenic and anthropogenic activities

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography Open 2022-11, Vol.2, p.100041, Article 100041
• Main Authors: Ruiz-Jimenez, Jose, Heiskanen, Ilmari, Tanskanen, Ville, Hartonen, Kari, Riekkola, Marja-Liisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic and biogenic activities; Building materials; Emission measurements; Indoor air quality; Sampling systems
• ISSN: 2772-3917; 2772-3917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcoa.2022.100041

•Analytical approaches for analysis of indoor air samples are reviewed.•Traditional and advanced air sampling techniques and devices are described.•Chromatographic and spectrometric techniques in indoor analysis is evaluated.•Application to building materials, anthropogenic and biogenic activities is summarized.•Future outlook and perspectives for indoor air analysis are enlighten. There is a clear relationship between indoor air quality, gaseous compounds (volatile and semi-volatile) and particles emitted by building materials, biogenic and anthropogenic activities, and human health. An increased interest in indoor air quality and emissions has raised during recent years. Nowadays, it is possible to find several analytical approaches based on a wide variety of sampling and analytical techniques. The main objective of this review is to clarify the different options available for the analyst by a critical evaluation of the different steps involved in these methods. In this way, a clear description and evaluation of the potential advantages and shortcomings for the different devices required in materials emission studies, the collection of total air samples using air canisters and particles by vacuum surface have been included in this review. In addition, the potential use of active and passive sampling techniques, for the efficient collection of different compounds from the air samples is described. Then, the selection of the most adequate analytical approach for the analysis of different compounds as a function of their physicochemical properties is evaluated. The latter will include not only traditional approaches such as gas or liquid chromatography but also more sophisticated ones such as proton transfer reaction or chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Finally, the application of these different analytical approaches to the evaluation of indoor air emissions, mainly from biogenic and anthropogenic activities but also from different building materials, are introduced. [Display omitted]