Determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in urban air of Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

In this study, quasicontinuous measurements of major aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were carried out by means of an automatic gas chromatograph (GC-PID analyzer), in the urban air of Thessaloniki, at a mean level of 27 m above ground, during the years 2003 and 2004. The highest measured concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons were observed during the winter period of the year. The data indicate that the annual mean benzene concentration levels were around 1 ppb, less than the E.U. annual limit value of 5.0 microg m(-3) (1.44 ppb at STP). The diurnal variation of aromatic hydrocarbons suggests that emissions from motor vehicles are their dominant source, at the commercial center of the city, while meteorological conditions (wind speed and direction) are important variables that control the atmospheric abundance of these pollutants, especially during stagnant weather conditions that favor the development of land-sea breeze circulations.

Ambient BTX Observation nearby Main Roads In Hefei during Summer Time

“…Following the first measurements of BTX in 1968 (Lonneman et al, 1968), many previous observations of BTX were performed by DOAS (Volkamer et al, 1998;Xie et al, 2006), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer/ Flame Ionization Detection (GC-MS/FID) (Kelessis et al, 2006;Rattanajongjitrakorn and Prueksasit, 2014) and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) (Taipale et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2012) in metropolis. DOAS is a non-contact technique for measuring multiple trace gases simultaneously in real time.…”

The Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) in the Urban Residential Atmosphere of Seoul, Korea

“…As one good example of such applications, the T/B ratios can be examined as a function of distance to the road (Gelencsr et al, 1997). In this study, the median value of T/B ratios at 4 sites (5.9-9.4) were much higher than those reported in many other urban areas like Rome, Changchum (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), and Thessaloniki (Greece) (Hong et al, 2006;Kelessis et al, 2006;Lai et al, 2004;Liu et al, 2000;Brocco et al, 1997). However, these values are rather comparable to those in most of Asian countries such as: Bangkok (10.22), Hong Kong (7.74), and Osaka (7.19) Gee and Sollars, 1998;Tsujino and Kuwata, 1993).…”

“…Considering that toluene and benzene are the main fuel constituents, T/B ratio can be a useful marker for road traffic emissions (Kelessis et al, 2006;Rappengluck et al, 2005;Brocco et al, 1997;Gelencser et al, 1997). As one good example of such applications, the T/B ratios can be examined as a function of distance to the road (Gelencsr et al, 1997).…”

Characteristics of Hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds (HVOCs) at Roadside, Tunnel and Residential Area in Seoul, Korea

“…따라서 toluene과 benzene의 비 (T/B)를 이용해서 이 물질들의 상대적인 행동을 평가 할 수 있고 (Gelencsr et al, 1997), 도로변의 자동차 배 가스로 인한 대기오염의 유용한 지시자(marker)로 활 용할 수 있다 (Kelessis et al, 2006;Rappengluck et al, 2005;Brocco et al, 1997;Gelencsr et al, 1997). 있고 (Nguyen et al, 2009;Na and Kim, 2001), BTEX 에 대해서 겨울철이 높고, 여름철이 낮은 결과를 보 인 연구도 있다 (Hoque et al, 2008;Brocco et al, 1997).…”