Abstract
The profiles, contributions to ozone formation, and associated health risks of 56 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) species were investigated using high time resolution observations from photochemical assessment monitoring stations (PAMs) in Luoyang, China. The daily averaged concentration of total VOCs (TVOCs) was 21.66 ± 10.34 ppbv in urban areas, 14.45 ± 7.40 ppbv in suburbs, and 37.58 ± 13.99 ppbv in an industrial zone. Overall, the VOCs levels in these nine sites followed a decreasing sequence of alkanes > aromatics > alkenes > alkyne. Diurnal variations in VOCs exhibited two peaks at 8:00–9:00 and 19:00–20:00, with one valley at 23:00–24:00. Source apportionment indicated that vehicle and industrial emissions were the dominant sources of VOCs in urban and suburban sites. The industrial site displayed extreme levels, with contributions from petrochemical-related sources of up to 38.3%. Alkenes and aromatics displayed the highest ozone formation potentials because of their high photochemical reactivity. Cancer and noncancer risks in the industrial site were higher than those in the urban and suburban areas, and USEPA possible risk thresholds were reached in the industrial site, indicating PAMs VOC–related health problems cannot be ignored. Therefore, vehicle and industrial emissions should be prioritized when considering VOCs and O3 control strategies in Luoyang.
Highlights
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a variety of organic compounds with a low boiling point and high vapor pressure [1]
The spatial distribution differences within urban areas were very high, with over 100% difference observed between Yuxi Hotel (YX) and Luoyang Institute of Technology (LG) in urban areas and between YY and YC in suburban areas, which indicated that the district-scale environment had a nonnegligible effect on total VOCs (TVOCs) distributions [12]
High time resolution observations of 56 photochemical assessment monitoring stations (PAMs) VOCs species were performed in Luoyang, China
Summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a variety of organic compounds with a low boiling point and high vapor pressure [1]. VOCs originate from a wide range of sources, including natural (e.g., plant emissions) and anthropogenic sources (e.g., vehicle exhaust emissions and solvent volatilization). VOCs have been reported to be precursors of troposphere ozone (O3 ) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA) [2,3,4,5,6]. VOCs affect human health [7,8]. VOCs emitted from painting, leather processing, and kitchen cooking can damage the nervous and hematopoietic systems and cause cancers [9,10]. A better understanding of the characteristics of VOCs in the atmosphere could offer insights into O3 pollution, SOA formation, and human health
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