Measurements of fine and ultrafine particles formation in photocopy centers in Taiwan |
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| Institution: | 1. Cooperative Research Centre for Environmental Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter stny. 1/A, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary;2. MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, King''s College London, 150 Stamford Street, SE1 9NH London, United Kingdom;3. Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy;4. Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB), Université Paris Est, 84 avenue Jean Jaurés, Champs-sur-Marne, F-77447 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2, France;5. Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;6. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Sialvera & Bakola Street, 50100 Kozani, Greece;7. The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), P.O. Box 49, 2600 AA Delft, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | This study investigates the levels of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and some selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at 12 photocopy centers in Taiwan from November 2004 to June 2005. The results of BTEXS (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes and styrene) measurements indicated that toluene had the highest concentration in all photocopy centers, while the concentration of the other four compounds varied among the 12 photocopy centers. The average background-corrected eight-hour PM2.5 in the 12 photocopy centers ranged from 10 to 83 μg m?3 with an average of 40 μg m?3. The 24-h indoor PM2.5 at the photocopy centers was estimated and at two photocopy centers exceeded 100 μg m?3, the 24-h indoor PM2.5 guideline recommended by the Taiwan EPA. The ozone level and particle size distribution at another photocopy center were monitored and indicated that the ozone level increased when the photocopying started and the average ozone level at some photocopy centers during business hour may exceed the value (50 ppb) recommended by the Taiwan EPA. The particle size distribution monitored during photocopying indicated that the emitted particles were much smaller than the original toner powders. Additionally, the number concentration of particles that were smaller than 0.5 μm was found to increase during the first hour of photocopying and it increased as the particle size decreased. The ultrafine particle (UFP, <100 nm) dominated the number concentration and the peak concentration appeared at sizes of under 50 nm. A high number concentration of UFP was found with a peak value of 1E+8 particles cm?3 during photocopying. The decline of UFP concentration was observed after the first hour and the decline is likely attributable to the surface deposition of charged particles, which are charged primarily by the diffusion charging of corona devices in the photocopier. This study concludes that ozone and UFP concentrations in photocopy centers should be concerned in view of indoor air quality and human health. The corona devices in photocopiers and photocopier-emitted VOCs have the potential to initiate indoor air chemistry during photocopying and result in the formation of UFP. |
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