Development of a personal passive air sampler for estimating exposure to effective chlorine while using chlorine-based disinfectants |
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Authors: | Yeonjeong Ha Yoonsub Kim Eugene Song Hyun Jung Yoo Jung-Hwan Kwon |
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Affiliation: | 1. Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;2. Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Contribution: Data curation (equal), ?Investigation (equal);3. Department of Consumer Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
Contribution: ?Investigation (equal), Methodology (equal);4. Department of Consumer Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
Contribution: Funding acquisition (equal), Methodology (equal) |
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Abstract: | With an increasing use of indoor disinfectants such as chlorine (Cl2) and hypochlorous acid, a convenient sampler for estimating exposure to oxidants, such as effective chlorine, is necessary. Here, we developed a personal passive air sampler (PPAS) composed of a redox dye, o-dianisidine, in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet. o-Dianisidine readily reacts with gaseous oxidants generated by bleach usage, and its color changes as the reaction progresses; hence, personal exposure to effective chlorine could be easily detected by the naked eye, while cumulative exposure could be determined by measuring concentrations of o-dianisidine reacting with it. The PPAS was calibrated, and a sampling rate of 0.00253 m3/h was obtained using a small test chamber. The PPAS was tested with the help of ten volunteers whose personal exposure to Cl2-equivalent gas was estimated after bathrooms were cleaned using spray and liquid-type household disinfection products, and the accumulated exposure-gas concentrations ranged from 69 to 408 ppbv and 148 to 435 ppbv, respectively. These PPAS-derived exposure concentrations were approximately two orders lower than those estimated using ConsExpo, suggesting a significant overestimation by prevailing screening models, possibly due to the ignorance of transformation reactions. |
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Keywords: | bleach chlorine disinfection inhalation exposure o-dianisidine personal passive air sampler |
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