The Influence of Chemical Interactions At the Human Surface on Breathing Zone Levels of Reactants and Products

Abstract

Using computational fluid dynamics simulations of an occupant in a ventilated room, we find that breathing zone ozone levels can be substantially lower and ozone reaction products associated with human surfaces (ORPHS) levels considerably higher than room levels. For air exchange rates <3/h, the ratio of the breathing zone to the ozone concentration 1 m from the body (bulk air), rozone, ranges from 0.59 to 0.75 for floor or ceiling air supply. ORPHS are enriched in the breathing zone, with concentrations for these conditions ranging from 1.2 to 2.5 greater than bulk air concentrations. at high air exchange rates (>8/h), the breathing zone concentrations approach bulk air concentrations (rozone > 0.9) with a floor supply, whereas large concentration gradients occur between breathing zone and bulk air with a ceiling supply. at these high air exchange rates, ORPHS levels are 1.6-2.0 and 2.9-6.0 times the bulk air concentrations for floor and ceiling supply, respectively. the extent of depletion of ozone or enrichment of ORPHS is large enough that reliance on micro-environmental measurements alone, to assess the intake of ozone or ORPHS, is undesirable.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Sponsor(s)

National Science Foundation (U.S.)
University of Texas at Austin

Keywords and Phrases

CFD; Breathing Zone Concentration; Exposure; Human Surface; Ozone Reaction Products

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0905-6947

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2009 Wiley-Blackwell, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2009

Link to Full Text

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