Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor emissionfrom decorative candles

This study investigates PAHs indoor emissions from burning decorative candle in an indoor environmentbecause emissions from burning wax in home have rarely been addressed. A total of 12 air samples werecollected during the entire burning period of the decorative candles. Particulate and gaseous PAHsemissions were simultaneously measured by passing effluent through a filter (to collect particulatephasePAHs), a cold trap and ORBO 43 tubes (to capture gaseous-phase PAHs). Analysis involvedultrasound extraction, followed by gas chromatographyemass spectrometry (GCeMS).The measured total PAHs concentration (particulate þ aqueous phase þ gas phases) for the candles,reported as mass of PAHs emitted/mass of candle burning, was between 2.3 and 49.8 mg kg 1 and mean15 mg kg 1. Considering the volume of sampled air, the concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 7 ngm 3 to267 ng m 3. Concentrations of B[a]P emitted by candles ranged from 0.1 to 7.5 ng m 3, while total carcinogenicPAHs, expressed as B[a]eq, ranged from 0.2 to 10.7 ng m 3. The values of all the isomeric indicescalculated in this research are in good agreement to literature data for emissions from high temperatureprocesses.