US EPA

1642852 

Journal Article 

Biogenic volatile organic compounds from the urban forest of the Metropolitan Region, Chile 

Préndez, M; Carvajal, V; Corada, K; Morales, J; Alarcón, F; Peralta, H 

2013 

Yes 

Environmental Pollution
ISSN: 0269-7491
EISSN: 1873-6424 

183 

143-150 

English 

23639471 

10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.003 

WOS:000327367600019 

Tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutant whose primary sources are volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. The national standard is exceeded on a third of summer days in some areas of the Chilean Metropolitan Region (MR). This study reports normalized springtime experimental emissions factors (EF) for biogenic volatile organic compounds from tree species corresponding to approximately 31% of urban trees in the MR. A Photochemical Ozone Creation Index (POCI) was calculated using Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential of quantified terpenes. Ten species, natives and exotics, were analysed using static enclosure technique. Terpene quantification was performed using GC-FID, thermal desorption, cryogenic concentration and automatic injection. Observed EF and POCI values for terpenes from exotic species were 78 times greater than native values; within the same family, exotic EF and POCI values were 28 and 26 times greater than natives. These results support reforestation with native species for improved urban pollution management. 

BVOCs; Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential; Photochemical Ozone Creation Index; Exotic and native arboreal species; Metropolitan Region; Chile