Methods for source characterization of organic air pollutants

Organic compounds are becoming increasingly more of interest as air pollutants, indoor as well as outdoor. Sources emitting such compounds are numerous and of various origin. For toxicological and epidemiological examination and for deciding on remedial actions information is required on the occurrences of compounds as well as on the emitting sources. For this purpose a number of investigations have been carried out with only limited success. To increase the quality of the description of air pollution related to complaints of dwellers and to exposure evaluation analytical and mathematical methods have tested in our laboratory. Analytical methods for the determination of different groups of organic compounds and mathematical methods for defining minimum sampling strategies and for the characterization of sources are discussed and illustrated with applications dealt with in the passed years. It is concluded that the application of a combination of these methods offers a manner to better describe and understand air pollution with organic compounds.