Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air of Buildings in Nuclear Power Plants, Taiwan

Hsieh, Ling-Ling; Zhang, Zhizhong; Sree, Usha; Lo, Jiunn-Guang

Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air of Buildings in Nuclear Power Plants, Taiwan

2006

Hsieh, Ling-Ling | Zhang, Zhizhong | Sree, Usha | Lo, Jiunn-Guang

This study investigates the composition and concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air-conditioned office space and low-level waste (LLW) repository sites of nuclear power plants located in Taiwan. Air samples were collected in the office space and technical rooms of administration buildings of the three nuclear power plants and in LLW repository site using canisters. Thirty-six toxic organic compounds including aromatics, CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons were identified and quantified using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The results indicated that the concentrations of most determined species were similar to that in urban areas; however, the air at the LLW building contained abundant trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113), trichloroethylene, toluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and CFC-12 in concentrations markedly higher than the background levels. Only toluene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were detected with low concentrations in the air of LLW repository site. In addition, comparison of the ambient air concentration at several major industries and urban atmosphere revealed that the nuclear power plants emitted and/or leaked higher concentration of chlorinated hydrocarbons among them.

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