Indoor climate in interior Alaska: simultaneous measurement of ventilation, benzene and toluene in residential indoor air of two homes

Benzene and toluene mixing ratios were measured in the indoor air of two subarctic homes during summer and winter. Benzene in the living area of these homes ranged from 1 to 25 ppbv and toluene ranged from 1 to 104 ppbv. Source strength estimate calculations supported the hypothesis that gasoline in the home’s attached garage is the primary source of these compounds in living area air. These calculations demonstrated that the home with the air-to-air heat exchangers and forced ventilation had less transport of aromatics than the unventilated home. Perturbation experiment showed that a full metal gasoline can in the garage was consistent with the importance of the garage as a source for the concentration of aromatics in the air of the living spaces in these Alaskan homes. The type of ventilation system also had an important effect on the quality of air in the living area.