Abstract
Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde were measured in urban ambient air by analyzing their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives with reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A series of nine short term field experiments were performed in eight cities. Concurrent formaldehyde measurements using the chromotropic-acid procedure show reasonable agreement (±30 %) between the two methods. Average summertime ambient urban formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations of 10–20 ppb (10 −9v/v) are significantly higher than the average acetaldehyde (CH 3CHO) concentrations of 1–2 ppb. There is evidence of much reduced formaldehyde levels in winter months. Exceptionally high, absolute (8.5 ppb av.) and relative ( HCHO CH 3CHO ~ 2 ) acetaldehyde concentrations are measured in the South Coast Air Basin of California.
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