Dr Amber Yeoman

Research Interests

As we spend around 90% of our time indoors, and inhale more than half of the body’s air intake during a lifetime while at home, the quality of indoor air is important for our wellbeing. Unlike controllable health factors, such as diet and exercise, the quality of the air we breathe is not entirely a personal choice that can be made, as we are obliged to inhale whatever is around us. Ensuring our indoor environments do not contain harmful pollutants, at least at dangerous levels, is therefore a necessity.

My research focuses on the source of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mainly consumer products, and the large contribution of solvents. Using Selected-Ion Flow-Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS), Quadrupole-Time of Flight Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Q-TOF GC/MS), and an in-house built applicant respiration replica I am able to identify and quantify VOC emissions from consumer products and replicate real-life use to evaluate the resulting inhalation risks.

Selected Publications

Yeoman AM, Heeley-Hill AC, Shaw M, Andrews SJ, Lewis AC. Inhalation of VOCs from facial moisturizers and the influence of dose proximity. Indoor Air. 2022; 32(1).
Yeoman AM, Lewis AC. Global emissions of VOCs from compressed aerosol products. Elem Sci Anthr. 2021;9(1):1–15.
Yeoman AM, Shaw M, Lewis AC. Estimating person-to-person variability in VOC emissions from personal care products used during showering. Indoor Air. 2021;31(4):1–11.
Yeoman AM, Shaw M, Carslaw N, Murrells T, Passant N, Lewis AC. Simplified speciation and atmospheric volatile organic compound emission rates from non‐aerosol personal care products. Indoor Air. 2020;30(3):459–72.

The technique for estimating inhaled dose from consumer products is constantly being developed. As such, updated datasets which supersede that published in Inhalation of VOCs from facial moisturizers and the influence of dose proximity. Indoor Air. 2022; 32(1) are available. Please contact me for access to this data.