Significance of Volatile Organic Compounds to Secondary Pollution Formation and Health Risks Observed during a Summer Campaign in an Industrial Urban Area

Li Cao; Qihui Men; Zihao Zhang; Hao Yue; Shijie Cui; Xiangpeng Huang; Yunjiang Zhang; Junfeng Wang; Mindong Chen; Haiwei Li

doi:10.3390/toxics12010034

Toxics (Jan 2024)

Significance of Volatile Organic Compounds to Secondary Pollution Formation and Health Risks Observed during a Summer Campaign in an Industrial Urban Area

Li Cao,
Qihui Men,
Zihao Zhang,
Hao Yue,
Shijie Cui,
Xiangpeng Huang,
Yunjiang Zhang,
Junfeng Wang,
Mindong Chen,
Haiwei Li

Affiliations

Li Cao: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Qihui Men: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Zihao Zhang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Hao Yue: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Shijie Cui: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Xiangpeng Huang: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
Yunjiang Zhang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Junfeng Wang: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Mindong Chen: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Haiwei Li: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12010034
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 34

Abstract

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The chemical complexity and toxicity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are primarily encountered through intensive anthropogenic emissions in suburban areas. Here, pollution characteristics, impacts on secondary pollution formation, and health risks were investigated through continuous in-field measurements from 1–30 June 2020 in suburban Nanjing, adjacent to national petrochemical industrial parks in China. On average, the total VOCs concentration was 34.47 ± 16.08 ppb, which was comprised mostly by alkanes (41.8%) and halogenated hydrocarbons (29.4%). In contrast, aromatics (17.4%) dominated the ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAFP) with 59.6% and 58.3%, respectively. Approximately 63.5% of VOCs were emitted from the petrochemical industry and from solvent usage based on source apportionment results, followed by biogenic emissions of 22.3% and vehicle emissions of 14.2%. Of the observed 46 VOC species, hexachlorobutadiene, dibromoethane, butadiene, tetrachloroethane, and vinyl chloride contributed as high as 98.8% of total carcinogenic risk, a large fraction of which was ascribed to the high-level emissions during ozone pollution episodes and nighttime. Therefore, the mitigation of VOC emissions from petrochemical industries would be an effective way to reduce secondary pollution and potential health risks in conurbation areas.

Published in Toxics

ISSN: 2305-6304 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics/

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