Modelling indoor radical chemistry during the HOMEChem campaign.

Abstract

In the indoor environment, occupants are exposed to air pollutants originating from continuous indoor sources and exchange with the outdoor air, with the highest concentration episodes dominated by activities performed indoors such as cooking and cleaning. Here we use the INdoor CHEMical model in Python (INCHEM-Py) constrained by measurements from the House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry (HOMEChem) campaign, to investigate the impact of a bleach cleaning event and cooking on indoor air chemistry. Measurements of the concentrations of longer-lived organic and inorganic compounds, as well as measured photolysis rates, have been used as input for the model, and the modelled hydroxyl (OH) radicals, hydroperoxyl radicals, and nitrous acid (HONO) concentrations compared to the measured values. The peak modelled OH, , and HONO concentrations during cooking and cleaning activities are about 30%, 10%, and 30% higher than the observations, respectively, within experimental uncertainties. We have determined rates for the rapid loss of HONO formed through cooking activities onto a wet surface during the cleaning events and also for the subsequent slow release of HONO from the cleaned surface back into the gas-phase. Using INCHEM-Py we have also predicted peak concentrations of chlorine (Cl) atoms, (0.75-2.3) × 10⁵ atom per cm³ at the time of cleaning. Model predictions of the Cl atom and OH radical reactivities were also explored, showing high Cl atom reactivity throughout the day, peaking around 5000-9000 s^-1. The OH reactivity was found to increase from a background value close to urban outdoor levels of 20-40 s^-1, to levels exceeding observations in outdoor polluted areas following cooking and cleaning activities (up to 160 s^-1). This underlines the high oxidation capacity of the indoor atmospheric environment through determining the abundance of volatile organic compounds.