Temporal Changes in U.S. Benzene Emissions Inferred from Atmospheric Measurements

Fortin, Tara J.; Howard, Benjamin; Parrish, D. D.; Kuster, W. C.; Atlas, Elliot L.; Harley, Robert A.

doi:10.1021/es049316n

Cited by 62 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…9b). This ratio value is indicative of a vehicular source and is consistent with observations of ambient benzene/ethyne ratios measured during several spring-summer field campaigns conducted throughout the US (Fortin et al, 2005;Harley et al, 2006;Parrish, 2006;Sistla and Aleksic, 2007;Warneke et al, 2007) and in major cities . The strong correlations between propane and ethyne (Fig.…”

Section: Ambient Ratios: Compounds With Similar Lifetimessupporting

confidence: 89%

Multi-year (2004–2008) record of nonmethane hydrocarbons and halocarbons in New England: seasonal variations and regional sources

et al. 2010

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Abstract. Multi-year time series records of C 2 -C 6 alkanes, C 2 -C 4 alkenes, ethyne, isoprene, C 6 -C 8 aromatics, trichloroethene (C 2 HCl 3 ), and tetrachloroethene (C 2 Cl 4 ) from canister samples collected during January 2004-February 2008 at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) AIRMAP Observatory at Thompson Farm (TF) in Durham, NH are presented. The objectives of this work are to identify the sources of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and halocarbons observed at TF, characterize the seasonal and interannual variability in ambient mixing ratios and sources, and estimate regional emission rates of NMHCs. Analysis of correlations and comparisons with emission ratios indicated that a ubiquitous and persistent mix of emissions from several anthropogenic sources is observed throughout the entire year. The highest C 2 -C 8 anthropogenic NMHC mixing ratios were observed in mid to late winter. Following the springtime minimums, the C 3 -C 6 alkanes, C 7 -C 8 aromatics, and C 2 HCl 3 increased in early to mid summer, presumably reflecting enhanced evaporative emissions. Mixing ratios of C 2 Cl 4 and C 2 HCl 3 decreased by 0.7±0.2 and 0.3±0.05 pptv/year, respectively, which is indicative of reduced usage and emissions of these halogenated solvents. Emission rates of C 3 -C 8 NMHCs were estimated to be 10 9 to 10 10 molecules cm −2 s −1 in winter 2006. The emission rates extrapolated to the state of New Hampshire and New England were ∼2-60 Mg/day and ∼12-430 Mg/day, respectively. Emission rates of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, Correspondence to: R. S. Russo (rrusso@gust.sr.unh.edu) xylenes, and ethyne in the 2002 and 2005 EPA National Emissions Inventories were within ±50% of the TF emission rates.

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Section: Ambient Ratios: Compounds With Similar Lifetimessupporting

confidence: 89%

Multi-year (2004–2008) record of nonmethane hydrocarbons and halocarbons in New England: seasonal variations and regional sources

et al. 2010

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“…Acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) was elevated in the London plume and was highly correlated with CO (r 2 = 0.86) and NO x (r 2 = 0.79). Acetylene is primarily emitted as vehicle exhaust (Fortin et al, 2005) and has a relatively long atmospheric lifetime of approximately 2 months with respect to oxidation by OH (Atkinson, 2000). Figure 5 also shows the ratio of benzeneto-toluene, which is commonly used to determine the air mass photochemical age because of the different atmospheric lifetimes of the two species (e.g., Warneke et al 2007).…”

Section: Trace Gas Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne measurements of trace gases and aerosols over the London metropolitan region

et al. 2012

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Abstract. The Emissions around the M25 motorway (EM25) campaign took place over the megacity of London in the United Kingdom in June 2009 with the aim of characterising trace gas and aerosol composition and properties entering and emitted from the urban region. It featured two mobile platforms, the UK BAe-146 Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) research aircraft and a ground-based mobile lidar van, both travelling in circuits around London, roughly following the path of the M25 motorway circling the city. We present an overview of findings from the project, which took place during typical UK summertime pollution conditions. Emission ratios of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to acetylene and carbon monoxide emitted from the London region were consistent with measurements in and downwind of other large urban areas and indicated traffic and associated fuel evaporation were major sources. Sub-micron aerosol composition was dominated by secondary species including sulphate (24 % of sub-micron mass in the London plume and 29 % in the non-plume regional aerosol), nitrate (24 % plume; 20 % regional) and organic aerosol (29 % plume; 31 % regional). The primary submicron aerosol emissions from London were minor compared to the larger regional background, with only limited increases in aerosol mass in the urban plume compared to the background (∼12 % mass increase on average). Black carbon mass was the major exception and more than doubled in the urban plume, leading to a decrease in the single scattering albedo from 0.91 in the regional aerosol to 0.86 in the London plume, on average. Our observations indicated that regional aerosol plays a major role on aerosol concentrations around London, at least during typical summertime conditions, meaning future efforts to reduce PM levels in London must account for regional as well as local aerosol sources.

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“…6). Since vehicular traffic is the main source of benzene in urban environments (Fortin et al, 2005), benzene has been used as a tracer to identify VOC sources in different studies (e.g., Barletta et al, 2005;Schnitzhofer et al, 2008). From previous ambient concentration measurements, a toluene to benzene mass ratio of 4.3±2.0 was determined for urban sites of Mexico City (Velasco et al, 2007), and a ratio of 1.9 for the Mexican fleet emissions (Zavala et al 2006).…”

Section: Correlation Between Fluxes Of Vocs and Comentioning

confidence: 99%

Eddy covariance flux measurements of pollutant gases in urban Mexico City

et al. 2009

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Abstract. Eddy covariance (EC) flux measurements of the atmosphere/surface exchange of gases over an urban area are a direct way to improve and evaluate emissions inventories, and, in turn, to better understand urban atmospheric chemistry and the role that cities play in regional and global chemical cycles. As part of the MCMA-2003 study, we demonstrated the feasibility of using eddy covariance techniques to measure fluxes of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and CO 2 from a residential district of Mexico City (Velasco et al., 2005a, b). During the MILAGRO/MCMA-2006 field campaign, a second flux measurement study was conducted in a different district of Mexico City to corroborate the 2003 flux measurements, to expand the number of species measured, and to obtain additional data for evaluation of the local emissions inventory. Fluxes of CO 2 and olefins were measured by the conventional EC technique using an open path CO 2 sensor and a Fast Isoprene Sensor calibrated with a propylene standard. In addition, fluxes of toluene, benzene, methanol and C 2 -benzenes were measured using a virtual disjunct EC method with a Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer. The flux measurements were analyzed in terms of diurnal patterns and vehicular activity and were compared with the most recent gridded local emissions inventory. In both studies, the results showed that the urban surface of Mexico City is a net source of CO 2 and VOCs with significant contributions from vehicular traffic. EvapCorrespondence to: E. Velasco (evelasco@mce2.org) orative emissions from commercial and other anthropogenic activities were significant sources of toluene and methanol. The results show that the emissions inventory is in reasonable agreement with measured olefin and CO 2 fluxes, while C 2 -benzenes and toluene emissions from evaporative sources are overestimated in the inventory. It appears that methanol emissions from mobile sources occur, but are not reported in the mobile emissions inventory.

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Temporal Changes in U.S. Benzene Emissions Inferred from Atmospheric Measurements

Cited by 62 publications

References 16 publications

Multi-year (2004–2008) record of nonmethane hydrocarbons and halocarbons in New England: seasonal variations and regional sources

Multi-year (2004–2008) record of nonmethane hydrocarbons and halocarbons in New England: seasonal variations and regional sources

Airborne measurements of trace gases and aerosols over the London metropolitan region

Eddy covariance flux measurements of pollutant gases in urban Mexico City

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