Concentrations and co-occurrence correlations of 88 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air of 13 semi-rural to urban locations in the United States

Pankow, JF; Luo, W; Bender, DA; Isabelle, LM; Hollingsworth, JS; Chen, C; Asher, WE; Zogorski, JS

HERO ID

52689

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2003

Language

English

HERO ID 52689
In Press No
Year 2003
Title Concentrations and co-occurrence correlations of 88 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the ambient air of 13 semi-rural to urban locations in the United States
Authors Pankow, JF; Luo, W; Bender, DA; Isabelle, LM; Hollingsworth, JS; Chen, C; Asher, WE; Zogorski, JS
Journal Atmospheric Environment
Volume 37
Issue 36
Page Numbers 5023-5046
Abstract #The ambient air concentrations of 88 volatile organic compounds were determined in samples taken at 13 semi-rural to urban locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Louisiana, and California. The sampling periods ranged from 7 to 29 months, yielding a large data set with a total of 23,191 individual air concentration values, some of which were designated "ND" (not detected). For each compound at each sampling site, the air concentrations (ca, ppbV) are reported in terms of means, medians, and means of the detected values. The analytical method utilized adsorption/thermal desorption with air-sampling cartridges. The analytes included numerous halogenated alkanes, halogenated alkenes, ethers, alcohols, nitriles, esters, ketones, aromatics, a disulfide, and a furan. At some sites, the air concentrations of the gasoline-related aromatic compounds and the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether were seasonally dependent, with concentrations that maximized in the winter. For each site studied here, the concentrations of some compounds were highly correlated one with another (e.g., the BTEX group (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the xylenes). Other aromatic compounds were also all generally correlated with one another, while the concentrations of other compound pairs were not correlated (e.g., benzene was not correlated with CFC-12). The concentrations found for the BTEX group were generally lower than the values that have been previously reported for urbanized and industrialized areas of other nations.
Doi 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2003.08.006
Wosid WOS:000186310600003
Url http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S135223100300637X
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments ECRIB.Atmos. Environ. 37: 5023-5046.
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword volatile organic compounds (VOCs); benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, BTX (BTEX); aromatic hydrocarbons; alkyl benzenes; alkylated aromatics; MTBE; ETBE; TAME; chlorinated hydrocarbons; solvents; chlorofluorocarbons; CFC (CFCs); urban air; air quality; adsorption/thermal desorption (ATD)