Physicochemical characterization of aerosol particles emitted by electrical appliances

Abstract Adverse health effects of airborne particulate matter depend on parameters like particle size, particle surface and chemical composition. Major emission of indoor particles is caused by combustion processes like tobacco smoking and cooking. Nevertheless, the use of household electrical appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, flat irons or hair dryers, can produce particles as well. In this study the emissions of different hair dryers and flat irons were investigated using a test chamber. The particle number concentrations, particle volume concentrations, as well as the size distributions were measured. Particles were sampled and analyzed by electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Moreover different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. Each tested appliance, especially flat irons produced small particles with diameters far below 100 nm and might be a nonnegligible source for indoor particles. Copper was the main identified element in most of the particles emitted from hair dryers, but in the emission of two hair dryers silver-containing nanoparticles were found as well. Various VOCs were observed in the emission of both flat irons and hair dryers, while cyclic siloxanes were detected only in the emission of flat irons. The use of flat irons or hair dryers may significantly contribute to the personal particle exposure.