Concentration levels of VOCs in ambient air and health assessment of respiratory diseases in petrochemical cities in western China

Abstract

99 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), except aldehydes and ketones, were measured in both PAMS and TO-15 methods in urban and suburban areas of Lanzhou, a petrochemical industry city located in northwest China, between 2021 and 2022. The collected data was analyzed to investigate the seasonal trends in air pollution and its correlation with respiratory diseases in Lanzhou. The average annual concentrations of VOCs were found to be 121 ppbv for urban living areas, 165 ppbv for industrial areas, and 114 ppbv for background areas, with industrial areas having the highest concentration. The VOCs comprise various organic compounds, including alkanes, olefins, halogenated hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons, which serve as organic tracers of specific marker molecules or their sources. Using principal component analysis, the species were grouped by the maximum variance method, and the VOCs concentration levels were scored for different regions. The associated changes were then calculated based on the number of respiratory morbidity cases reported from public health hospitals in each region. The results indicate association between VOCs concentration levels and the onset of respiratory illnesses during the fall and winter seasons. Thus, reducing the emissions of VOCs during the fall and winter months can effectively mitigate the public health risks associated with respiratory illnesses.