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What Gases Make Up Air?
Concentrations of various gases in air
- POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about the constituents of air: concentrations of gases in air
Gases that make up outdoor air: this article provides a table of the components in outdoor air - a list of the various gases found in air by percentage.
The table gives the percent of each gas found in typical outdoor air, includes citations of authoritative sources, and discusses variations in the data. These gas percentages are a useful reference for comparison when making both outdoor and indoor site measurements and studies of air quality and air contaminants.
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What are Typical Concentrations of all of the Gases in Air
Outdoor air is commonly used as a baseline for comparison with indoor air quality. Provided that the outdoor air location sampled is not close to a particular source of contamination such as particulates or chemicals from a nearby trash burning or industrial facility, or such as gases from an adjacent garage or highway this is a reasonable approach. The table below provides the components of indoor air in typical percentages of make-up.
| Component Gases of Outdoor Air | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gas In order of percentage of outdoor air |
Outdoor Air Percent | Symbol, Comments |
| Nitrogen | 78.084% | N2, one of four chief components of air |
| Oxygen | 20.947% | O2, second of four chief components |
| Argon | 0.934% | Ar, third of four chief components, an inert gas |
| Carbon dioxide | 0.033% to - 0.04% | CO2, fourth of chief components of outdoor air, together these four 99.998% of air A healthy human breathing outdoor air exhales a mixture with about 6% less oxygen and much higher CO2 , in a breath mixture of about 14% O2 and 4.4% CO2 but as exhaled breath is mixing with a much greater volume of indoor air, the normal indoor CO2 will not normally approach that 4% level. See CARBON DIOXIDE - CO2 for details. |
| Trace Gases detectable in outdoor air | ||
| Neon | 18.2 ppm (parts per million) | Ne |
| Helium | 5.2 ppm | He |
| Methane | 2.0 ppm | CH4, |
| Krypton | 1.1 ppm | Kr |
| Sulfur dioxide | 1.0 ppm | SO2,, |
| Hydrogen | 0.5 ppm | H2 |
| Nitrous Oxide | 0.5 ppm | N2O NITROGEN OXIDES [PDF document] |
| Xenon | 0.09 ppm | Xe |
| Ozone | 0.07 ppm | O3, |
| Nitrogen dioxide | 0.02 ppm | NO2 |
| Iodine gas | 0.01 ppm | I2 |
| Ammonia | very low trace levels | NH3 |
| Carbon monoxide | very low trace levels | CO, Typical IAQ screening should not detect in indoor air. See CARBON MONOXIDE - CO for details. |
...
Notes to the table above
Notes:
1. Moeckel, W.E.; Weston, K.C., "Composition and Thermodynamic Properties of Air in Chemical Equilibrium", Technical Report NACA-TN-4265, Lewis Flight Propulsion Lab., Cleveland, 1 April 1958,
updated 25 February 2008, Website citation: www.osti.gov, U.S. DOE
2. Bender, M. L., T. Sowers, J.‐M. Barnola, and J. Chappellaz (1994),
Changes in the O2/N2 ratio of the atmosphere during recent decades reflected in the composition of air in the firn at Vostok Station, Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21(3), 189–192, doi:10.1029/93GL03548.
3. A.P. Jones, "Indoor Air Quality and Health", School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK,
Atmospheric Environment
Volume 33, Issue 28, December 1999, Pages 4535–4564
...
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
- [1] CADAC, Commercial And Domestic Appliance Company, produces a range of gas and camping products. we are guessing that typically they'd be marketing LP - liquid propane. Web search 07/22/2010 - original source: http://www.cadac.co.za/index.php?page=company describes Cadac products. their tel: support line on 0860 22 3 22 0
- [2] Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, web search 07/22/2010, original source: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/propane/health_pro.html
- [3] "Residential Electric Water Heater Installation Instructions and Use & Care Guide", American Water Heater Co., October 2001, American Water Heater Co., Johnson City, TN, [manufacturer of residential & commercial water heaters, also manufacturer of Polaris/Commercial water heaters], Tel: 800-999-9515, web search 1/12/2012, original source: americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/res-elect.pdf [copy on file]
- [4] Portions of this data were extract5ed from CompuServe's SAFETYNET forum 1989 and from the following articles:
- [5] [73766,1245] GASES.TOX 08-May-87 17240 53 Title: Toxicity & hazards discussion of various gases
- [6] Keywords: Discussion of the toxicity and hazards of various gases, ammonia, arsine, bromine, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, propylene, and sulfur dioxide.
- [7] [74756,40] CO 20-Dec-86 7050 40 Title: Carbon Monoxide discussion by Jack Peterson
- This is a discussion of carbon monoxide from lift trucks, by Jack Peterson, in response to a query on the message board. Excellent information from one of the leading experts on the topic. ASCII file - Uploaded by Len Wilcox, 74756,40 [an old Compuserve address].
- [8] [76701,115] COALAR.TXT 19-Aug-88 12814 17 Title: Message thread on Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- [9] Keywords: CO CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM ALARMS MONITOR MONITORING TESTING
- [10] [Portions of this file was excerpted and edited from contents of a 1986 Compuserve message board discussion on Carbon Monoxide alarms, featuring comments by one of the leading authorities on CO, Jack Peterson.-- DJF]
- [11] U.S. Army Field Manual FM-8-285-Noxious_Chemicals discusses Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Hazards caused by fire
- [12] Sulfur dioxide, Exposure Limits, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, web search 4/12/12, original source:
http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_268500.html - [13] "Residential Electric Water Heater Installation Instructions and Use & Care Guide", American Water Heater Co., October 2001, American Water Heater Co., Johnson City, TN, [manufacturer of residential & commercial water heaters, also manufacturer of Polaris/Commercial water heaters], Tel: 800-999-9515, web search 1/12/2012, original source: americanwaterheater.com/support/manuals/res-elect.pdf [copy on file]
- [14] More information about gas hazards, gas toxicity, or other environmental hazards is available from public and professional agencies and associations such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) www.aiha.org, OSHA www.osha.gov, and the Mine Safety & Health Administration www.msha.gov. Also see Industrial Hygiene News.
- "When Wrinkle-Free Clothing Also Means Formaldehyde Fumes", Tara Siegel Bernard, The New York Times, 11 December 2010, pp. B1, B5.
- Formaldehyde MSDS, Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc., 222 Red School Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, Mallinckrodt Chemicals and J.T. Baker, Tel: 800-582-2537 (U.S.) or 908-859-2151 (outside the U.S.) retrieved 12/13/2010, original source: http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/f5522.htm Note that the company's website "about us" link brings readers to Avantor Performance Materials, formerly Mallinckrodt Baker. Quoting:
Avantor™ Performance Materials (formerly Mallinckrodt Baker) is a global manufacturer of high-purity performance chemistries and materials sold under the J.T.Baker® and Mallinckrodt® brands. Our products are used in laboratory, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and microelectronic industries worldwide. - [1] Gas detection tubes are one of the classical measurement techniques of gas analysis (Ref. Drager Tubes - CMS Handbook).
- The first detector tube was used in the U.S. in 1919 (for CO). Modern tubes offer quantitative results with a high degree of accuracy and selectivity. Basically, a "tube" is a glass tube which contains one or more chemical reagents which react with the measured substance by changing color, hence the name "colorimetric gas detector tubes".
- In most tubes, the length of stain, combined with the volume of pumped test-air and with other environmental variables such as RH and temperature provide a quantitative measure of the level of target substance present at the instant of sample collection. Other methods are available for long-term sampling where that approach is needed.
- [2] These tests intended for use during and immediately after fires to protect firefighters and investigators.
- [3]Draeger Simultaneous Sets I and II measure inorganic combustion gases. Set III is for the measurement of organic vapors, most of which are not pertinent to this fire. The specific substances tested and the test results for each are listed in our Lab Report.
- [4] Draeger Sampling Pump: I use the Draeger accuro 100 ml multi-stroke bellows Pump and Draeger-Tubes for gaseous substance sampling, or the Sensidyne Gastec 100 ml multi-stroke piston pump and Gastec tubes for certain gaseous substances. Both pumps are factory calibrated at 100 cc, and are leak-tested before and after each investigation. The adsorption tubes used for substance screening/identification are factory-calibrated.
- [5] The 11th substance (phosphine) is related to fertilizer fires and is unlikely at a residential property fire.
- [6] IDLH "Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health; TLV" Threshold Limit Value.
- [7] Benzene exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.1 ppm ST 1 ppm; OSHA PEL: [1910.1028] TWA 1 ppm ST 5 ppm
- [8] Carbon dioxide exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 5000 ppm (9000 mg/m3) ST 30,000 ppm (54,000 mg/m3) OSHA PEL: TWA 5000 ppm (9000 mg/m3)
- [9] Carbon monoxide exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 35 ppm (40 mg/m3) C 200 ppm (229 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 50 ppm (55 mg/m3)>
- [10] Formaldehyde exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.016 ppm C 0.1 ppm [15-minute]; OSHA PEL: [1910.1048] TWA 0.75 ppm ST 2 ppm
- [11] Formic acid exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 5 ppm (9 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 5 ppm (9 mg/m3)
- [12] Ozone exposure limits: NIOSH REL: C 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m3)
- [13] Toluene exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 100 ppm (375 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (560 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 200 ppm C 300 ppm 500 ppm (10-minute maximum peak)
- [14] Ammonia exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 25 ppm (18 mg/m3) ST 35 ppm (27 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 50 ppm (35 mg/m3)
- [15] "Health Hazards of some Gases" Jack E. Peterson, P.E., CIH, Ph.D., May, 1987. This data is from CompuServe's SAFETYNET forum 1989 and from the following articles:
- [73766,1245] GASES.TOX 08-May-87 17240 ; 53
- Title: Toxicity & hazards discussion of various gases
- Keywords: Discussion of the toxicity and hazards of various gases, ammonia, arsine, bromine, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, propylene, and sulfur dioxide.
- [74756,40] CO 20-Dec-86 7050 40
- Title : Carbon Monoxide discussion by Jack Peterson
- Keywords: CO CARBON MONOXIDE JACK PETERSON DISCUSSION THREAD
- This is a discussion of carbon monoxide from lift trucks, by Jack Peterson, in response to a query on the message board. Excellent nformation from one of the leading experts on the topic.
- 74756,40. [76701,115] COALAR.TXT 19-Aug-88 12814 17
- Message thread on Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Keywords: CO CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM ALARMS MONITOR MONITORING TESTING
- This file is a message board discussion on Carbon Monoxide alarms, featuring comments by one of the leading authorities on CO, Jack Peterson.
- [16] Arsine exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca C 0.002 mg/m3 [15-minute];OSHA PEL: TWA 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg/m3)
- [17] Benzene exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.1 ppm ST 1 ppm; OSHA PEL: [1910.1028] TWA 1 ppm ST 5 ppm
- [18] Bromine exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3) ST 0.3 ppm (2 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 0.1 ppm (0.7 mg/m3)
- [19] Carbon monoxide exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 35 ppm (40 mg/m3) C 200 ppm (229 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 50 ppm (55 mg/m3)
- [20] Benzene exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.1 ppm ST 1 ppm; OSHA PEL: [1910.1028] TWA 1 ppm ST 5 ppm
- [21] Formaldehyde exposure limits: NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.016 ppm C 0.1 ppm [15-minute]; OSHA PEL: [1910.1048] TWA 0.75 ppm ST 2 ppm
- [22] Formic acid exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 5 ppm (9 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 5 ppm (9 mg/m3)
- Methane gas exposure limits: Methane is discussed at METHANE GAS EXPOSURE LIMITS. Also see METHANE & SEWER GAS HAZARDS for a discussion of methane toxicity and explosion
- [23] Nitric oxide exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 25 ppm (30 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 25 ppm (30 mg/m3)
- [24] Ozone exposure limits: NIOSH REL: C 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m3)
- [25] Propylene exposure limits: ?
- [26] Sulfur dioxide exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 2 ppm (5 mg/m3) ST 5 ppm (13 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 5 ppm (13 mg/m3)
- [27] Toluene exposure limits: NIOSH REL: TWA 100 ppm (375 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (560 mg/m3); OSHA PEL: TWA 200 ppm C 300 ppm 500 ppm (10-minute maximum peak)
- [28] Vinyl chloride: NIOSH REL: Ca; OSHA PEL: [1910.1017] TWA 1 ppm C 5 ppm [15-minute]
- In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
CONTINUE READING or RECOMMENDED ARTICLES.
- Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes and to use illustrations from The ILLUSTRATED HOME .
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.
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