Abstract
Understanding the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is essential in the implementation of abatement measures of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosols. In this study, we conducted offline VOC measurements at residential, industrial, and background sites in Wuhan City from July 2016 to June 2017. Ambient samples were simultaneously collected at each site and were analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection system. The highest mixing ratio of total VOCs was measured at the industrial site, followed by the residential, and background sites. Alkanes constituted the largest percentage (>35%) in the mixing ratios of quantified VOCs at the industrial and residential sites, followed by oxy-organics and alkenes (15–25%).The values of aromatics and halohydrocarbons were less than 15%. By contrast, the highest values of oxy-organics accounted for more than 30%. The model of positive matrix factorization was applied to identify the VOC sources and quantify the relative contributions of various sources. Gasoline-related emission (the combination of gasoline exhaust and gas vapor) was the most important VOC-source in the industrial and residential areas, with a relative contribution of 32.1% and 40.4%, respectively. Industrial process was the second most important source with a relative contribution ranging from 30.0% to 40.7%. The relative contribution of solvent usage was 6.5–22.3%. Meanwhile, the relative contribution of biogenic emission was only within the range of 2.0–5.0%. These findings implied the importance of controlling gasoline-related and industrial VOC emissions in reducing the VOC emissions in Wuhan.
Highlights
As major precursors of photochemical smog, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial in atmospheric chemistry
The highest mixing ratios of total VOCs were measured at the ZK point, followed by the center city site (ZY)
The ZK organic VOCs (OVOCs) likely came from the emissions of automobile spraying and solvent coating given that the site was located in the development zone of Wuhan, which was surrounded by a large number of automobile manufacturing, repair, and other supporting industries, to form a relatively complete automobile and supporting industrial park
Summary
As major precursors of photochemical smog, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are crucial in atmospheric chemistry. VOCs can react with NOx to form ozone, and take part in the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) through photochemical reactions and gas-phase particle reactions [1,2]. Research on pollution characteristics and VOC sources can provide insights into the pollution control of urban photochemicals and fine particulate matter [3,4]. The sources of VOCs are often complex because of various species, polluting industries and emission, sources largely depending on the levels of local energy consumption levels and the industrial structures [5,6]. Automobile exhaust, solvent usage, fuel evaporation, technological process. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 791; doi:10.3390/ijerph17030791 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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