Cooking‐related PM _2.5 and acrolein measured in grocery stores and comparison with other retail types

Abstract

We measured particulate matter (PM), acrolein, and other indoor air contaminants in eight visits to grocery stores in California. Retail stores of other types (hardware, furniture, and apparel) were also sampled on additional visits. Based on tracer gas decay data, most stores had adequate ventilation according to minimum ventilation rate standards. Grocery stores had significantly higher concentrations of acrolein, fine and ultrafine PM, compared to other retail stores, likely attributable to cooking. Indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and acrolein exceeded health guidelines in all tested grocery stores. Acrolein emission rates to indoors in grocery stores had a mean estimate about 30 times higher than in other retail store types. About 80% of the indoor PM2.5 measured in grocery stores was emitted indoors, compared to only 20% for the other retail store types. Calculations suggest a substantial increase in outdoor air ventilation rate by a factor of three from current level is needed to reduce indoor acrolein concentrations. Alternatively, acrolein emission to indoors needs to be reduced 70% by better capturing of cooking exhaust. To maintain indoor PM2.5 below the California annual ambient standard of 12 μg/m(3) , grocery stores need to use air filters with an efficiency rating higher than the MERV 8 air filters commonly used today.

High-Resolution Exposure Assessment for Volatile Organic Compounds in Two California Residences

“…Source apportionment in this study attributed the residential VOC exposures to four source categories: “continuous indoor sources”, “outdoor origin”, “cooking”, and “other”. Time-resolved exposures and associated source apportionments are displayed in Figure for site H2 and subject H2M1 for the case of acrolein, an illustrative compound of health interest with prior evidence of both continuous indoor sources (lumber) and episodic sources (combustion and cooking). − We note that acrolein has been previously measured in outdoor ambient air and retail stores near the H1 and H2 residences. , In the present study, daily occupant exposures to acrolein were mainly attributable to continuous indoor sources, with a median exposure of ∼4.6 ppb-hours per day (ppb-h d –1 ). Substantial variation was observed in daily exposures, principally due to variations in the fraction of time that occupants spent indoors combined with the effects of event-specific sources.…”

“…48−52 We note that acrolein has been previously measured in outdoor ambient air and retail stores near the H1 and H2 residences. 53,54 In the present study, daily occupant exposures to acrolein were mainly attributable to continuous indoor sources, with a median exposure of ∼4.6 ppb-hours per day (ppb-h d −1 ). Substantial variation was observed in daily exposures, principally due to variations in the fraction of time that occupants spent indoors combined with the effects of event-specific sources.…”

Adverse effects of acrolein, a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, on muscle regeneration and mass

“…Chan et al . have demonstrated that cooking can cause significantly higher concentrations of acrolein in grocery stores . The tolerable daily intake (TDI) for acrolein has been estimated to be 7.5 μg/kg body weight .…”

Low-Dose Acrolein, an Endogenous and Exogenous Toxic Molecule, Inhibits Glucose Transport via an Inhibition of Akt-Regulated GLUT4 Signaling in Skeletal Muscle Cells

“…The exogenous sources of acrolein include food, the environment, and tobacco [10]. High levels of cooking-related acrolein have been detected in grocery stores [11]. One endogenous source of acrolein is the metabolites of cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug [10].…”