Vertical variation and source evaluation of VOCs and inorganic pollutants in a university building

Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and inorganic pollutants including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O-3) were measured using passive samplers in both indoor and outdoor environments at 2, 5, 8, 13, 17, 24, and 29 m from the ground level at a high-rise building in the Middle East Technical University campus in Ankara, Turkey. The measured indoor concentrations of Sigma 24VOCs were highly variable, ranging from 98g m(-3) (at the ground floor) to 235.3g m(-3) (at the fourth floor), while the outdoor concentrations varied between 96.8g m(-3) (at the seventh floor) and 189.8g m(-3) (at the ground level). Outdoor concentrations of inorganic pollutants ranged between 58g m(-3) at the ground floor and 26g m(-3) at the ninth floor for SO2, and 59.9g m(-3) at the ground floor and 31.2g m(-3) at the ninth floor for NO2. A similar decreasing trend with altitude was also observed for indoor concentrations of these pollutants. Indoor and outdoor O-3 concentrations did not change with altitude. Statistically significant correlations were found between indoor and outdoor concentrations of some of the measured NO2, SO2 toluene, octane, nonane and 1,2-dichlorobenzene, indicating moderate-to-strong relationships between their indoor and outdoor concentrations. The factor analysis revealed six factors for both indoor and outdoor data. Traffic was found to be the highest contributor to the measured VOCs, SO2, and NO2 concentrations, which was followed by painting activities

Existence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient particulate matter samples: A nationwide study in Turkey

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. The disease led to significant mortality and morbidity in Turkey, since the first case was reported on March 11th, 2020. Studies suggest a positive association between air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ambient particulate matters (PM), as potential carriers for SARS-CoV-2. Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban and urban-background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities across Turkey between 13th of May and 14th of June 2020 to investigate the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. A total of 203 daily samples (TSP, n = 80; PM2.5, n = 33; PM2.5-10, n = 23: PM10 mu m, n = 19; and 6 size segregated PM, n = 48) were collected using various samplers. The N1 gene and RdRP gene expressions were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to real time (RT)-PCR and three-dimensional (3D) digital (d) PCR analysis, dual RdRP and NI gene positivity were detected in 20 (9.8%) samples. Ambient PM-bound SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed quantitatively and the air concentrations of the virus ranged from 0.1 copies/m(3) to 23 copies/m(3). The highest percentages of virus detection on PM samples were from hospital gardens in Tekirdag, Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM2.5 mode. Findings of this study have suggested that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient partides, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots. However. whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved