Measurements of Black CarbonLevels Using Photoacoustic Technique inside Different Buildingsat Yarmouk University/Jordan

Abstract

Measurements of the black carbonlight absorption coefficients (B_abs) inside different buildings at Yarmouk University were done using the Photoacoustic instrument at wavelength of 870nm. The main source of black carbon particles inside buildings are smoking and the nearby traffics. The average values of B_abs for the buildings that prohibited smoking in were less than that for the buildings that allowed smoking in. The highest average value of B_abs was found inside the science building, it was equal to 7.97 Mm^-1. This building is close to a main street, and smoking in is allowed. Calculation of the black carbon mass concentration (BC) were done based on the measured Babs and the light absorption efficiencyfor black carbon αa. BC found to have average value equal to 0.725µg/m³ for the prohibited smoking buildings and 1.045 µg/m³ for the allowed smoking buildings. The building that is nearby traffic had the largest value of BC 1.30 µg/m³.

Keywords: Absorption coefficient; Black carbon; Absorption efficiency; Indoor pollution.