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Source apportionment of exposure to toxic volatile organic compounds using positive matrix factorization

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 11, pages 295–307 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Data from the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology studies, conducted from 1980 to 1987 in New Jersey (NJ) and California (CA), and the 1990 California Indoor Exposure study were analyzed using positive matrix factorization, a receptor-oriented source apportionment model. Personal exposure and outdoor concentrations of 14 and 17 toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were studied from the NJ and CA data, respectively. Analyzing both the personal exposure and outdoor concentrations made it possible to compare toxic VOCs in outdoor air and exposure resulting from personal activities. Regression analyses of the measured concentrations versus the factor scores were performed to determine the relative contribution of each factor to total exposure concentrations. Activity patterns of the NJ and CA participants were examined to determine whether reported exposures to specific sources correspond to higher estimated contributions from the factor identified with that source. For a subset of VOCs, a preliminary analysis to determine irritancy-based contributions of factors to exposures was carried out. Major source types of toxic VOCs in both NJ and CA appear to be aromatic sources resembling automobile exhaust, gasoline vapor, or environmental tobacco smoke for personal exposures, and automobile exhaust or gasoline vapors for outdoor concentrations.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by U.S. EPA grant number R82-6788-010. The PMF model was used under a licensing agreement with Pentti Paatero of the University of Helsinki. We are grateful to Eileen Daly and Bill Oliver for their assistance with the statistical analysis of the data.

Although the research described in this article has been funded by the U.S. EPA, it has not been subjected to any EPA review and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

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  1. Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, The University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    MELISSA J ANDERSON

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA

    SHELLY L MILLER & JANA B MILFORD

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  1. MELISSA J ANDERSON
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Correspondence to JANA B MILFORD.

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ANDERSON, M., MILLER, S. & MILFORD, J. Source apportionment of exposure to toxic volatile organic compounds using positive matrix factorization. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 11, 295–307 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500168

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