Organic and elemental carbon concentrations in fine particulate matter in residences, schoolrooms, and outdoor air in Mira Loma, California

Indoor and outdoor elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) concentrations were measured from September 2001 through January 2002 at 20 residential sites and a local high school in western Riverside County, CA. The correlation (R2) between indoor vs. outdoor EC and indoor vs. outdoor OC were 0.63 and 0.47, respectively, while the correlation of EC to OC outdoors and indoors was 0.58 and 0.23, respectively. The average OC content of PM2.5 was 0.25 and 0.55 for outdoor and indoor PM2.5, respectively. It was concluded that there were no significant indoor sources of EC while indoor OC sources contributed significantly to indoor PM2.5. Home with smokers had significantly higher TC and OC than homes without. Schoolrooms generally had less EC and OC due to the schools HVAC system.