In

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Residential Air Quality Study of Southern New Jersey Homes

David Benoit, Victor Garlitos, Ryan Lewis, Blake Beyer, Diane Milleson
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test which criteria pollutants are most likely to be found within
the home, as well as which room they are most prevalent in. the probes used to test these
parameters tested for 11 different pollutants and conditions. The first of these parameters being
sulfur dioxide, which was most commonly found in higher concentrations within kitchens, living
rooms as well as the bedroom. Ammonia was found primarily in the living rooms. Nitrogen
dioxide had high concentrations within the living rooms and garages. Carbon monoxide had the
highest readings in the basement and bedrooms of the houses. There was no significant pattern
within the temperature of each room because of varying conditions and times of the year when
data was collected. Nitric oxide was prevalent in both the garages as well as outdoors. Carbon
dioxide had high levels within living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Humidity was highest in
the kitchen, garage, and living room. Our tests also included ozone and hydrogen sulfide, both of
which had very few readings if any at all.
I.
Introduction
Air pollution has been of global concern originating with the Industrial Revolution and
the high levels of pollution that began during this period. As a result, the Clean Air Act (CAA)
was passed in 1970 (EPA, 2013). It addressed sources of air pollution that were being released
into the atmosphere, which were causing harmful effects such as smog and greenhouse gas
emissions. While this was highly successful in lowering emissions by a large margin, they were
not diminished entirely. These amendments have not been successful in lowering a particularly
important pollutant that the U.S. releases, carbon dioxide (CO2) (EPA, 2013). The concentration
of CO2 emissions have been exponentially rising in the last century, which has been proven to be
responsible for anthropogenic climate change.
In the last several decades or so, many humans around the world have evolved from a
lifestyle in which many hours were spent outdoors, to a lifestyle that is spent mostly indoors.
Americans, in particular, are often inside a building for much of the day; whether it is a
residence, school, office, or store. On average, Americans spend ninety percent of their daily
lives indoors (EPA, 2011). Surprisingly, indoor air quality can be much poorer than outdoor air
quality. Indoor air quality can have two to five times the concentrations of some air pollutants
compared to outdoor air.
A number of acute and chronic illnesses can be linked to indoor air pollutants, as well as
countless preventable deaths each year (Kampa, 2008). In recent years, Scientists have been
conducting studies about the dangers that poor indoor air quality can have on human health. As
buildings become more efficiently built, these pollutants can become heavily concentrated inside
of them. While everyone is vulnerable to the effects of indoor air pollutants, small children and
the elderly are of special concern (Bernstein, 2008). While the results of these studies have been
available to the general public for some time now, they have yet to be taken into account by the
U.S. government. To date, there are no regulations for indoor air quality and no methods
available to the general public for monitoring their homes air quality.
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Using a series of criteria, we will be evaluating the indoor air quality of residences within
Atlantic County, NJ. Each have various levels of activity that would result in emissions of
common pollutants. Many homeowners are currently unaware of unhealthy levels of air
pollutants that could be in their homes. The results of these tests will be important in terms of the
human health of the individuals living in these residences. Depending on the results, some might
need to make adjustments in their houses infrastructure in order to eliminate the problematic
source(s) of air pollution.
1.

Sources of Air Pollution

1.1

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a flammable gas that is colorless and odorless. It is a product
of the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons that are produced when a carbon-containing
material is burned (McDonald, 2013). CO attributes for over fifty percent of air pollution, both in
the United States and globally. CO is a pervasive pollutant, and each year hundreds of millions
of tons are emitted worldwide (Hill 120).
There are countless sources of CO that can be found throughout the common household.
High levels are typically found in spaces that are enclosed, which have combustion appliances
that are not working properly. Heating equipment, such as gas furnaces, water heaters, and
clothes dryers all release CO when in use (Bernstein, 2008). Also, the burning of biomass (wood
and other dried vegetation) in woodstoves and fireplaces can release harmful amount of CO if
not ventilated properly. There are other sources of CO that are commonly found in households,
such as tobacco smoke and motor vehicle emissions (Hill 120). High levels are typically found in
spaces that are enclosed, which have combustion appliances that are not working properly.
Although CO has been classified as a poison since 1857, many people are unaware that
they are being exposed to harmful levels. The leading cause of poisoning death in the U.S. is CO
exposure, and is responsible for 450 preventable deaths each year (Sethi, 2005). The reason it is
so deadly is that inhaled CO replaces oxygen in blood, which is needed to survive. Hemoglobin,
a blood protein, contains an iron atom that typically binds to oxygen under normal conditions.
When there are high levels of CO in the air, these oxygen atoms are displaced by CO atoms,
which have an affinity for the iron atom that is 245 times that of oxygen (Sethi, 2005). As a
result, oxygen is not able to reach the heart or brain, which both need steady oxygen
concentrations to function properly. Early symptoms of CO exposure are weakness, headaches,
dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Exposure to high levels of CO may lead to unconsciousness,
coma, or death (Sethi, 2005).
1.2

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a non-flammable gas that is colorless and odorless. There are
several sources of CO2, including human respiration and the combustion of fuels. CO2 is the
main combustion product from appliances that are fuelled by wood, coal, gas, and kerosene.
When in operation, these types of appliances can represent significant sources of this gas.
2

Typically, the concentrations of CO2 that are found indoors ranges from 700 pm to 2,000 ppm.
However, when unvented appliances are used, these levels can exceed 3,000 ppm (McDonald,
2013).
Exposure to CO2 must be at extremely high concentrations before significant human
health problems are likely to occur. It can act as an irritant to the respiratory tract, and is a simple
asphyxiant. Studies have shown that respiration is slightly affected when levels are above 15,000
ppm. Also, CO2 can cause feelings of discomfort and stuffiness at moderate concentrations. CO2
exposures that are above 30,000 ppm may lead to nausea, headaches, and dizziness (McDonald,
2013). These concentration levels can also affect an individuals perception of motion, as carbon
dioxide has the ability to moderate the activity of cells within the visual cortex of the brain.
1.3

Nitric oxide and Nitrogen dioxide (NOx)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are most commonly found in the air as nitric oxide (NO) and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NOx are produced by reaction of nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O),
especially at high temperatures (Hill 128). NO2 is a red to brown gas that has a sharp, pungent
odor. It is water-soluble and forms during combustion at high temperatures. Common sources of
NOx are wood-burning stoves, kerosene heaters, gas appliances, and cigarette smoke. On
average, studies found that using a vented gas cooking range regularly can add 25 ppb of NO2 to
original concentrations found in a home. This is of particular importance because half of all
American households use gas (Bernstein, 2008). Homes that use unvented kerosene and gas
space heaters have been shown to have one-week average levels of 45 ppb and above.
Particularly, while cooking with a gas range, peak levels can be as high as 400 to 1,000 ppb.
(Jones, 1999)
In the United States, high levels of NOx are often associated with lower income
households. This is a result of poor ventilation, small house size, and the use of gas appliances
for heating (Bechle, 2011). NO2 is harmful to human health because it is an oxidizing agent. It
can cause severe irritation to the mucous membranes of the lungs and may act as a trigger for
asthma (Kampa, 2008). Since it water-soluble, a large percentage of NOx that is inhaled is
removed in the respiratory tract. When in the lungs, NO2 combines with water to form nitric acid
(HNO3) (Hill 128). Exposure to NOx can adversely affect lung function, as well as increase the
likelihood of respiratory infections, Studies have suggested that certain sub-groups are more
vulnerable than others, such as children, asthmatics, and women (Bernstein, 2008).
1.4

Ozone

Ozone is not a primary pollutant, but is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) mix in the presence of sunlight (Finlayson-Pitts, 2014). This
reaction causes an oxygen radical (O) to form, which is highly reactive with diatomic oxygen
(O2) and thus ozone (O3) is formed. The common sources are factories, power plants, and motor
vehicle emissions (Finlayson-Pitts, 2014). While we need ozone in the stratosphere to survive,
tropospheric ozone can cause many health concerns.
The acute health effects of exposure to ozone are irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and
lungs. Young adults can develop inflammation of the bronchial tubes and lung tissue beginning
3

at levels of 0.2 ppm (Hill 123). O3 can still harm people at the legally allotted maximum amount
of 0.075 ppm. Physically active people are at a higher risk because of how frequently and deeply
they breathe while performing. This results in a higher volume intake, which is why is it
recommended that exercise is performed earlier in the day before levels rise (Hill 123). People
with breathing issues, most notably the young, are also at high risk. Chronic exposure to O3 can
permanently damage lungs, and people who are exposed to high levels have a quarter to third
greater risk of dying from respiratory disease (Hill 123).
1.5

Hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless gas that is highly flammable and toxic. It is
distinguished by its rotten egg smell that occurs even at low concentrations (IDPH, 2014).
Natural sources of H2S are natural gas, crude petroleum, and hot springs. The bacterial
breakdown of human and animal wastes, or sewage, also produces H2S. It is heavier than air, so
it can travel along the ground and can collect in low-lying, poorly-ventilated areas such as
basements (IDPH, 2014). Inhalation is the primary route of exposure, and the gas is absorbed by
the lungs rapidly. If ignited, H2S can produce toxic vapors and gases, such as sulfur dioxide.
Hydrogen sulfide is an irritant and chemical asphyxiant that affects the central nervous
system, as well as oxygen utilization (OSHA, 2005). H2S is an irritant, and at low concentrations
may cause burning or tearing of the eyes, coughing, and shortness of breath. Asthmatics also
may have trouble breathing when exposed to low concentrations. These effects can be delayed
by several hours or even days. Over time, exposure may cause headaches, fatigue, insomnia,
weight loss, and eye inflammation (OSHA, 2005). At moderate concentrations, symptoms such
as severe eye and respiratory irritation, vomiting, and dizziness, and staggering may occur. At
high concentrations, very severe symptoms such as shock, convulsions, coma, and even death
may occur (OSHA, 2005).
1.6

Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a colorless gas that is a corrosive acid. At levels of about 0.5 ppm,
SO2 produces a pungent, irritating odor. It is produced when coal and other fuels containing
sulfur are burned, which leads to the oxidation of the sulfur impurities that are in these fuels
(OSHA 2005). SO2 is readily soluble in water, and in the atmosphere is converted into
substances which form the aerosols sulfuric acid and sulfate. SO2 accounts for about eighteen
percent of all air pollution, second only to carbon monoxide (Hill 125).
Generally, levels of SO2 are lower indoors than the levels that are found outdoors. In the
USA and Europe, annual levels are below 20 ppb as a result of reduction in emissions. However,
homes that use kerosene heaters and poor vented coal and gas appliances can have high levels of
SO2 (Bernstein, 2008). This is of particular concern because SO2 has many adverse health effects
at high concentrations. Moisture in the lungs, eyes, and other mucous membranes reacts with
SO2 to form an acid that is strongly irritating (Hill 126). About ninety percent of this conversion
happens within the upper respiratory tract. Also, sensitive individuals can experience allergictype reactions and asthmatic symptoms when exposed (Jones, 1999).

1.7

Ammonia

Ammonia (NH3) is a common substance that naturally occurs in decaying organic matter
and in human and animal waste. Man-made sources include the use of fertilizers, industrial
processes, and waste disposal sites (SEPA, 2014). Under normal conditions, pure NH3 is a
colorless, corrosive gas with an unpleasant odor that is detectable even at low concentrations. In
households, it is used in a variety of ways for bleaching and cleaning. It is also used in many
products that are found in households, such as plastics and rubber (SEPA, 2014).
By itself, NH3 is unlikely to cause any adverse health effects. High concentrations may
lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat (SEPA, 2014). However, in the air, ammonia mixes
with other emissions to form particulate matter (PM). The risk of particulate formation is
associated with the presence of other precursors, such as nitric and sulfate acids. (Hansen, 2014).
Long-term exposure to particulates that are less than PM 2.5 can lead to heart and lung disease,
and even death.
II.
Materials and methods
The grey wolfs modular wolfpack area monitor. The data is recorded by site (house) and
location (rooms) within the site folder. All values except humidity and temperature were
measured in ppm parts per million. Temperature was recorded in Celsius. The data was taken
from the area monitor using the software Wolfsense pc. We decided who would have priority of
using the equipment by the number of houses the person could test. The more houses they could
test the higher the priority. We measured for eight common air pollutants and three air
characteristics (temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit and humidity). The pollutants we tested
for were sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Each person did the testing on their own except for three houses which were done with
two people. We tested for the pollutants in bedrooms, a basement, garages, kitchens, living
rooms, and the outside of the house. The machine was set to take measurements every ten
seconds for five minutes, this was done in each of the rooms including the reading for the
outdoor air quality. The data was averaged and compiled into box and whisker plots.
We tested twelve houses over the course of the semester. All twelve of these houses were
in Atlantic county, and no two houses were in very close proximity to each other. All were over a
mile away from each other.

III.
Results
All graphs are representative of every house for each respective room. It is important to note that
some rooms yielded negligible data.

Sulfur Dioxide

Figure 1: This is a box

and whisker plot for
sulfur dioxide in the
garage, outdoor,
kitchen, living room,
and bedroom areas
for each house tested.

garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

0.2

0.4
0.6
Parts Per Million

0.8

The basement is not listed because there was only one house with a basement and it yielded
0.3ppm of sulfur dioxide.
The garage yielded values from 0 to 0.4 parts per million (ppm). The interquartile range is from
0.1375ppm to 0.3625ppm. The interquartile range allows one to see where the majority of the
data falls.
The outdoor measurements, which are representative of ambient air quality of that area, had
Sulfur Dioxide levels from 0ppm to 0.35ppm with the interquartile range from 0ppm to 0.15ppm.
The kitchen yielded a range of 0.1ppm to 0.8ppm. This was the largest range of measurements
indicating that the max number (0.8ppm) is a statistically significant outlier. However, this large
amount of Sulfur Dioxide brings questions for sulfur dioxide sources in kitchens.
The living room had an overall range from 0ppm to 0.55ppm. The interquartile range was found
to be from 0.15ppm to 0.45ppm.
The Bedroom yielded an overall range from 0ppm to 0.55ppm with an interquartile range of
0.1375ppm to 0.35ppm

Hydrogen Sulfide

Figure 2: This is a box

and whisker plot for
Hydrogen Sulfide in
the basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

basement
garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

0.2

0.4
Series1

Series2

0.6

0.8

Series3

The results for Hydrogen Sulfide in all of the rooms of the houses were negligable.

Ammonia PPM

basement

Figure 3: This is a box

and whisker plot for
Ammonia in the
basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

1
Q1-0

2
Med(Q2)-Q1

3
Q3-0

The basement is not shown because there was only one house with a basement and it yielded
0ppm of ammonia.
The garage yielded values from 0 to 0.1 ppm and the interquartile range is from 0 ppm to
0.075ppm. It is difficult to see the difference from the error bars, however, there is a difference
of 0.025ppm.
The outdoor measurements, which are representative of ambient air quality of that area, had
ammonia levels from 0ppm to 0.05ppm and there was no interquartile range. There was no
interquartile range because almost all measurements were 0ppm (or were under the detectable
limit of the instrument). Two measurements were 0.05ppm.
The kitchen yielded an overall range of 0ppm to 0.2ppm. The interquartile range was from 0ppm
to 0.1ppm.
7

The living room had an overall range from 0ppm to 4.4ppm. The 4.4ppm was found at the
address of 7 east 59th. The interquartile range was found to be from 0ppm to 0.125ppm.
The Bedroom yielded an overall range from 0ppm to 0.15ppm with an interquartile range of
0ppm to 0.1ppm.
Figure 3: This is a box
and whisker plot for
Ammonia in the
basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

Nitrogen dioxide
basement
garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

The basement is not shown because there was only one house with a basement and it yielded
0ppm of nitrogen dioxide.
The garage yielded values from 0ppm to 0.31 ppm and the interquartile range is from 0ppm to
0.21375ppm.
The outdoor measurements had nitrogen dioxide levels from 0ppm to 0.345ppm and the
interquartile range was 0ppm to 0.1325ppm.
The kitchen yielded an overall range of 0ppm to 0.305ppm. The interquartile range was from
0ppm to 0.11475ppm.
The living room had an overall range from 0ppm to 3.2ppm. A measurement of 3.2ppm of
nitrogen dioxide was found at the address of 7 east 59th. The interquartile range was found to be
from 0ppm to 0.20875ppm.
The Bedroom yielded an overall range from 0ppm to 0.275ppm with an absence of an
interquartile range.

carbon monoxide ppm

Figure 3: This is a box

and whisker plot for
Carbon monoxide in
the basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

basement
garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

4
Series1

Series2

10

Series3

The basement had a measurement of 1.15ppm.

The garage yielded values from 0ppm to 0.8ppm and the interquartile range is from 0ppm to
0.15ppm.
The outdoor measurements had carbon monoxide levels from 0ppm to 2.51ppm and the
interquartile was 0ppm to 0.525ppm.
The kitchen yielded an overall range of 0ppm to 0.305ppm. The interquartile range was from
0ppm to 1.375ppm.
The living room had an overall range from 0ppm to 2.05ppm. The interquartile range was found
to be from 0ppm to 1.3ppm.
The Bedroom yielded an overall range from 0ppm to 1.7ppm with an interquartile range of 0ppm
to 1.35ppm.

THESE ARE THE GRAPHS THAT DO NOT REPRESENT THE DATA CORRECTLY THAT
YOU TOLD US TO SEND IN ANYWAY

Temperature C

This is a box and

whisker plot for
Temperature in
degrees Celsius for
the basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

10

20

30

40

50

The basement had one measurement at a temperature of 21.7C. There should not be an
interquartile range because there was one measurement.

Nitric Oxide
garage
outdoor
Series1
kitchen

This is a box and

whisker plot for Nitric
oxide in the garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

Series2
Series3

living room
bedrooms
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

The basement only had one data measurement at one address. The single value that was found
was 0.15ppm of nitric oxide.

10

This is a box and

whisker plot for
Carbon Dioxide for
the basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

Carbon Dioxide
ppm
basement
garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

500

1000

1500

2000

This is a box and

whisker plot for the
relative humidity for
the basement, garage,
outdoor, kitchen,
living room, and
bedroom areas for
each house tested.

Relative humidity in
basement
garage
outdoor
kitchen
living room
bedrooms
0

20

40
Series1

60
Series2

80

100

120

140

Series3

The saturation for relative humidity cannot be over 100% and this graph shows super saturated
rooms. This is not possible in a house because it would be raining inside these houses and it was
not.

11

IV.
Discussion
Indoor air quality is an important influence on overall health that is ignored by many
people mostly either from ignorance of the affect air quality can have, or also from an inability to
acquire the testing equipment. This project was a rare opportunity four our group to test the
indoor air quality of our residences and the residences of our friends and relatives. The results
from our experiment were given on the previous pages, and the discussion will be set up
similarly. Each pollutant will be discussed separately across each room, while comparing it to the
other residences. This section will discuss any trends found in our data from our experiment, and
what significance if any these trends hold. As a note 7 East 59th Street and 14 East 58th Street are
both summer residences that were not currently occupied during our testing.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
The deleterious effects of sulfur dioxide were discussed in the introduction to this
research paper. The EPA recommends a yearly intake of SO2 of 140 ppb (EPA, 2014). The
indoor air quality testing equipment we used for the experiment took readings in ppm, but this
can easily be converted to compare the results to the EPAs standards of ppb. There was a
significant amount of variation from residence to residence. For sulfur dioxide intake the worst
room to spend time in would have to be the kitchen. This is expected because SO2 is the product
of combustion, and any gas stove will release SO2 into the air. Remembering to leave the
windows open while cooking would help to reduce sulfur dioxide levels in the kitchen. The
living room was the second most likely room to expose the resident to sulfur dioxide followed by
the garage, bedroom, and the least likely place for exposure was outside. The garage is likely
from running your car while it is in the garage and is another reason why you should not park
your car in an attached garage.
Nitric Oxide (NO)
Nitric Oxide as an indoor pollutant is usually found in conjunction with nitrogen dioxide,
and is also a byproduct of combustion. As such it is fixed with NO2 at 0.053 ppb per day (EPA,
2014). In most residences the majority of NO pollution is not generated within the house, but
instead comes from outside. This trend holds through our experiment where outdoor NO levels
were much higher than indoors. This follows that we found the most likely room to be exposed
to nitric oxide was the garage. Many garages are not as well insulated, for good reason, as the
rest of the house. Since many residents park their cars in attached garages less insulation helps to
keep the byproducts of combustion, like NO, from entering the house through the garage, but
instead exit outside. This was followed by the kitchen and living room as likely areas of
exposure. This could come from gas powered ovens and stoves and also fireplaces which would
release nitric oxide from combustion.

12

Ammonia (NH3)
As a VOC the EPA considers any level of ammonia to potentially be harmful, and a lung
irritant for those who are sensitive like asthma sufferers. The most likely places to find ammonia
in the air according to our research was the living room followed by the bedroom. This is
surprising because in general the kitchen and garage are the most likely place to encounter
ammonia. This comes from the storage of cleaning products containing NH3. These two places
we found to be the least likely to encounter ammonia, and this could mean an error in our results.
Ozone (O3)
Ozone a byproduct of combustion was found in only one location during our testing. That
was outside 614 Jackson Ave. This is most likely because of the time of the year that we did the
majority of our air quality testing. The increased exposure to sunlight and higher temperature
during the summer increases levels of tropospheric ozone. Most of our testing was conducted in
October and November when it is much cooler and we were not expecting to find ozone. The
614 Jackson Ave test was conducted in September and at 74oF was the second hottest day we
conducted tests on.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
The EPA recommends on average 0.053 ppb per day intake of nitrogen dioxide. The
majority of the residences we tested either had no NO2 to detect or levels much greater than the
EPA recommendation. The greatest chance of exposure to nitrogen dioxide is from combustion
and this see-saw from high to low may be from tobacco smoking or another source of
combustion. If found the levels were .25-.35 ppm or 250-350 ppb. The most likely rooms to be
exposed to NO2 was the living room followed by the garage. The living room could be from fire
places which may need better ventilation. The garage most likely came from starting the car
while it is still parked in the garage.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon Dioxide by itself has not been found to have any serious health affects at normal
concentrations. However, CO2 can be an indicator for the presence of more harmful indoor air
pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The recommended level of CO2 according
to the EPA is 1,000 ppm, but anything less than 800 ppm is ideal. Most residences tested were
within the recommended zone of 1,000 ppm or less. The few outliers averaged at 1,500 ppm and
could be from a lack of ventilation. The best way to keep levels of carbon dioxide low are to not
smoke in your house and to allow air flow through your house from opening doors and windows.
These would be the recommendations I would give if I were to speak with the residents now
after testing.
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Hydrogen sulfide occurs in areas with poor ventilation. Like the other VOCs the EPA
recommends a level of 0.00 ppb exposure a day of hydrogen sulfide. Only one location tested
positive for hydrogen sulfide. This was 14 east 58th Street in the kitchen. Hydrogen sulfide come
13

from sewer gas seeping into the home. The room however was the kitchen of a second floor
apartment on Long Beach Island, so a further study to see if the results are reproducible and to
find the source would be needed to explain this anomaly. The apartment is also a summer home
for my grandparents and was sealed for the winter in September. This could also have
contributed to the high levels of indoor air pollutants since it had not been opened for over a
month.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide is one of the most deadly indoor air pollutants and so is not measured
by day, but per eight hours. The EPA recommends an 8 hour exposure to CO of 35 ppm or at
maximum 200 ppm. The residences we tested averaged 0.5-2.5 ppm across all rooms. The most
likely areas to be exposed to carbon monoxide were the bedroom and the basement. This is most
likely from poor ventilation since the outdoor ambient levels of carbon monoxide were about the
same as indoors.

14

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