Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in indoor and outdoor air in Turkey: Estimations of sources and exposure

The aim of the current study was to measure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in eight indoor (In both kitchen and living room) air sampling locations using a passive sampling method for collection. Passive outdoor air samples were also collected from 3 of the same sampling locations as the indoor air sampling sites. Sampling was conducted in three seasons. The summer season, when windows are generally open, was between 18th July and 01st September, 2014; the autumn and winter seasons, when windows are mostly closed, was between 18th October and 01st December, 2014, and 01st December, 2014, and 18th January, 2015, respectively. Average PAH concentrations in summer were 22 +/- 21 ng/m(3) and 17 +/- 12 ng/m(3) in the living room and kitchen, respectively, whereas living room and kitchen average PAH concentrations were 23 +/- 16 ng/m(3) and 20 +/- 9 ng/m(3), respectively, in autumn and 23 +/- 13 ng/m(3) and 23 +/- 24 ng/m(3), respectively, in winter. Outdoor air PAH concentrations in summer, autumn and winter were 7 +/- 0.4 ng/m(3), 22 +/- 13 ng/m(3) and 209 +/- 33 ng/m(3), respectively. An increase in outdoor PAH concentrations was measured in winter compared to the concentrations in summer and autumn, which paralleled the lower outdoor air temperature. However, PAH concentrations in the indoor environment vary according to the household characteristics and personal habits.