Aldehydes in the atmospheric environment: Evaluation of human exposure in the north-west area of Milan

摘要

Human exposure to aldehydes has been evaluated in five urban locations and one rural-industrial location in the north-west area of Milan in winter 1999 and in summer 1998-99. Ambient air samples collected on dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-coated diffusive cartridges were analysed for aldehydes as their DNPH-derivatives. Aldehydes have been identified and their concentration measured via HPLC-UV and LC-APCI-MS negative ion mode methods. During the winter the range of total concentration of aldehydes was 16.7-30.7 mug/m(3) at the urban locations and 11.7 mug/m(3) at the rural-industrial location. Formaldehyde accounted for 50% of the total amount of carbonyl compounds in all locations; the percentage of acetaldehyde was more variable: 23-38% of the total carbonyls. The contribution of outdoor environment to the average human daily intake of formaldehyde in this area (urban and rural-industrial) is mostly 1-2% of the total human exposure. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. [References: 7]