Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in a Typical Urban Area of Beijing: Pollution Characterization, Health Risk Assessment and Source Apportionment

Abstract

Atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measurement was carried out using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) technique (Airmo VOCs online analyzer) in a typical urban area in Beijing from April 2014 to January 2015. Ambient levels, variation characteristics and influential factors contributing to the formation of near-ground-ozone and secondary organic aerosols as well as health risk assessment of VOCs were analyzed. Based on these analyses, the important VOC species that should be given more attention for pollution control were identified and the source apportionment of VOCs was made. Suggestions for VOCs pollution control countermeasures were put forward. The annual average concentration of 84 VOCs was 119 µg·m −3 and the hourly mean concentration was 9.11-567 µg·m −3 . Ambient level of VOCs in Beijing has been alleviated in recent years, but is still severe compared to some other cities. VOCs with the largest proportion were alkanes in spring and halogenated hydrocarbons in summer, autumn and winter. The variation of 84 VOCs concentrations was consistent with that of the ambient air quality index, indicating that VOCs had a strong influence on ambient air quality. Influenced by the concentration and activity of VOCs, the largest contribution to ozone formation potential and secondary organic aerosol formation potential came from alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively. Five VOCs species such as benzene pose carcinogenic risk to exposed populations. Contrary to some previous studies, benzene was found to have potential cancer risk in some urban areas in China. The main sources of VOCs in the study area were vehicle exhaust, solvent usage, and industrial processes. In order to improve air quality in Beijing and reduce the infection rate of air pollutant related diseases, it is necessary to strengthen the control the emission of VOCs from those three sources.

Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Summertime Volatile Organic Compounds in a Fast Developing City in the Yangtze River Delta, China

“…For the SOAFP, only alkanes and aromatics had the corresponding formation potential [36]. The result was also in accordance with other studies in Beijing and Shanghai [37,38]. Among the five sites, ZL had the largest OFP and SOAFP, due to its highest concentration of aromatics (17.5 µg/m 3 comparing to 11.0-14.5 µg/m 3 in the other four sites).…”

“…Consistent with this work, aromatics dominated the OFP in 20 out of 22 cities in [34]. In other studies in Beijing and Nanjing, however, alkenes were the largest contributor to the OFP [31,37]. Since concentrations of different VOC species varied by year and season [37], more studies on temporal variation are needed to identify the contribution to the OFP.…”

“…The two main aromatics species in ZL were toluene and benzene, and their concentrations were 70% and 20% larger than the average of other four sites, respectively. The averaged OFP value was 125 µg/m 3 , around 48% less than that obtained in Beijing by [37]. Our OFP value was also lower than those in given northern or southern China cities [34] due to the relatively low VOC concentration in Nantong.…”

Application of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry for the assessment of toluene removal in a nonthermal plasma reactor

“…Toluene is considered a typical precursor for the formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols and is a possible carcinogen, teratogen, and mutagen . Most existing studies of toluene removal by NTP have focused on the removal efficiency and CO 2 selectivity rather than on the identification, quantification, and risk assessment of the organic by‐products.…”

“…Toluene is considered a typical precursor for the formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols 15,16 and is a possible carcinogen, teratogen, and mutagen. 17 Most existing studies of toluene removal by NTP have focused on the removal efficiency and CO 2 selectivity [18][19][20] rather than on the identification, quantification, and risk assessment of the organic by-products. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC-FID), and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) are the commonly used techniques to characterize the effect of the NTP treatment of toluene.…”