Elemental carbon and respirable particulate matter in the indoor air of apartments and nursery schools and ambient air in Berlin (Germany).

Unlabelled: This study was performed to examine exposure to typical carcinogenic traffic air pollutants in the city center of an urban area. In all, 123 apartments and 74 nursery schools were analyzed with and without tobacco smoke interference and the households in two measuring periods. Simultaneously, the air outside 61 apartment windows as well as the average daily traffic volume were measured.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons inside and outside of apartments in an urban area.

In the context of environmental monitoring in Berlin polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in air and household dust were measured inside 123 residences (and simultaneously in a sub group in the air outside the windows). The aim of this study was to determine exposure to PAHs in the environment influencing by several factors, for instance, motor vehicle traffic in a populous urban area. Indoor air samplings were carried out in two periods (winter and spring/summer) in smokers and non-smokers apartments.

Occurrence of phthalates and musk fragrances in indoor air and dust from apartments and kindergartens in Berlin (Germany).

Unlabelled: In this study, the occurrence of persistent environmental contaminants room air samples from 59 apartments and 74 kindergartens in Berlin were tested in 2000 and 2001 for the presence of phthalates and musk fragrances (polycyclic musks in particular). These substances were also measured in household dust from 30 apartments. The aim of the study was to measure exposure levels in typical central borough apartments, kindergartens and estimate their effects on health.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and diesel engine emission (elemental carbon) inside a car and a subway train.

Significant concentrations of potentially harmful substances can be present in the interior of vehicles. The main sources of PAHs and elemental carbon (EC) inside a car are likely to be combustion emissions, especially from coal and traffic. The same sources can also be important for the interior of a subway train for which there are specific sources in the tunnel system, for example diesel engines.

[Exposure of the population to volatile organic compounds inside an automobile and a subway train].

Air quality, in particular in urban regions, is affected by the emissions of the traffic and meanwhile for some substances motor vehicles became the dominating source. For valid quantitative risk assessment of the general population it is necessary to have informations about the main routes of exposure. Therefore in a pilot study 1994 and two times in summer 1995 and winter 1996 aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were determined under different meteorologic conditions inside of a car (a two year old VW-Golf with a three-way catalyst) and in a subway-train.