Institute of Chemistry

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Author: search.filters.author.Berisha, Avni

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    Semi-Quantitative Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Outdoor Air Using Passive Samplers: A Case Study of Milan, Italy
    (MDPI AG, 2025-09-16)
    Mula, Vllaznim
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    Zeneli, Lulzim
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    Mehmeti, Valbonë
    This study presents a semi-quantitative characterization of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and their emission sources in indoor and outdoor environments across four residential and laboratory sites in Milan, Italy, during the summer of 2024. Radiello® passive samplers (Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri in Padova, Italy) were employed for VOC collection, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The semi-quantitative mean total VOC (TVOC) concentration was 220.8 ± 195.4 µg/m3 for the outdoor air and slightly higher at 243.6 ± 134.3 µg/m3 for the indoor air, resulting in an indoor-to-outdoor relative ratio of 1.10. The outdoor VOC profile was dominated by hydrocarbons, accounting for 80.3% ± 4.6% (173.2 ± 143.8 µg/m3) of TVOCs, followed by aromatic hydrocarbons at 13.3% ± 5.5% (37.2 ± 49.7 µg/m3). Indoors, hydrocarbons also predominated, representing 34.1% ± 15.2% (95.2 ± 80.1 µg/m3) of the TVOCs, followed by terpenes at 20.7% ± 15.5% (49.0 ± 46.4 µg/m3). Other VOC groups contributed smaller fractions in both environments. The emission profiles from cleaning and personal care products were assessed semi-quantitatively to determine their relative percentage contributions to the indoor VOCs. Source attribution was further supported by diagnostic relative ratios—benzene/toluene, toluene/benzene, and (m + p)-xylene/ethylbenzene—which provided insight into dominant emission sources and photochemical aging.
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    Assessment of volatile organic compounds in indoor environments across North Macedonia and Kosovo using passive sampling
    (Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia, 2024-12-28)
    Mula, Vllaznim
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    Petreska Stanoeva, Jasmina
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    Zeneli, Lulzim
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    Berisha, Avni
    <jats:p>Humans are exposed to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, potentially leading to adverse health consequences. In this study, the distribution of vari-ous VOCs in indoor air in North Macedonia and Kosovo was investigated for the first time. From March to December 2023, the monthly relative abundance of VOCs was monitored using Radiello® pas-sive/diffusive samplers, followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC MS) analysis.A total of 60 samples were collected from 17 sites, where over 70 individual VOCs belonging to several classes were identified. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds were the most abundant in the chemical stockroom, contributing up to 77.84 % of the total VOC relative abun-dance. In the printing store/workplace, alkylbenzenes were predominant, comprising 69.72 %. Alcohols and ethers were primarily detected in the coffee shop, whereas organosiloxanes were dominant in the hair salon, accounting for 33.87 % and 54.46 % of the total VOCs, respectively. Terpenes were a significant component in the meat factory, representing 65.78 % of the total VOCs, while hydrocarbons were most prevalent in the oil & lubricants store, accounting for 58.23%. Halogenated compounds were primarily found in the superstore, constituting 20.42 % of total VOCs. The VOC composition results indicate that their presence in indoor environments may pose both acute and chronic health risks.</jats:p>