Volatile organic compounds in normal human exhaled breath: A long neglected pollutant source

Abstract

At present, indoor VOCs pollution has widespread concern. However, for human emission of VOCs, fundamental data was in shortage in the field of indoor air quality (IAQ). In this study, 11 male subjects without a smoking habit, 12 female subjects without a smoking habit and 12 male subjects with a smoking habit were selected. Their samples of exhaled breath were collected and concentrated by sampling bags and sorbent tubes, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). 135 VOCs were observed in all 35 samples. An average breath sample contained 79.7 VOCs (SD16.2, range 43-110) were obtained, 12 VOCs were observed in all 35 subjects. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of main indoor pollutants: benzene, toluene, xylene and naphthalene were performed, as well as TVOC. The effect of gender was found to be not as strong a factor as the effect of the smoking habit. Exhaled VOCs of female subjects were of higher concentration than those of male subjects. Exhaled VOCs of subjects with a smoking habit were more diverse and of higher concentration. © 2013 WIT Press.