Measurements of Black Carbon Levels Using Photoacoustic Technique inside Different Buildings at Yarmouk University/Jordan

Measurements of the black carbon light absorption coefficients (Babs) 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 Babs for the buildings that prohibited smoking in were less than that for the buildings that allowed smoking in. The highest average value of Babs 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 efficiency for black carbon αa. BC found to have average value equal to 0.725 μg/m^3 for the prohibited smoking buildings and 1.045 μg/m^3 for the allowed smoking buildings. The building that is nearby traffic had the largest value of BC 1.30 μg/m^3.