Abstract:
Attached garages have been identified as important sources of indoor residential air pollution. However,
the literature lacks information on (1) how the proximity of cars to the living area affects indoor
concentrations of gasoline-related compounds, such as benzene; and (2) the origin of these pollutants,
i.e., vapor or tailpipe emissions. We analyzed data from the Relationships of Indoor, Outdoor, and
Personal Air (RIOPA) study to evaluate indoor (Cin) and outdoor (Cout) concentrations for 114 residences
with cars either in an attached garage, a detached garage or carport, or without cars. Results indicate that
single-family detached homes with cars in attached garages were affected the most by parked vehicles,
followed by homes with vehicles in carports. Concentrations in homes with cars in detached garages
were similar to those in residences without cars. Low ventilation rates exacerbated Cin in homes with
attached garages. In general, the contribution from gasoline-related sources to indoor benzene and MTBE
concentrations appeared to have been dominated by car exhaust, or by a combination of tailpipe and
gasoline vapor emissions. Residing in a home with an attached garage could lead to benzene exposures
that are an order of magnitude higher than exposures from commuting in a car in heavy traffic, with
a risk of 17 excess cancers in a population of a million. Strategies to lower exposure to gasoline-related
contaminants in homes include improving construction practices to prevent the infiltration of pollutants
into the living quarters or incorporating detached garages
