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Air monitoring with passive samplers for volatile organic compounds in atmospheres close to petrochemical industrial areas. The case study of Tarragona (2019-2021)

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9366530
    Authors:
    Vallecillos, LRiu, JMarce, RMBorrull, F
    Abstract:
    This study reports a three-year monitoring campaign of 62 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of increasing concern in urban atmospheres near petrochemical industrial areas. A total of 770 air samples were taken during the sampling campaigns conducted monthly between January 2019 and December 2021. The analytical method applied involved a 14-day passive sampling in Carbopack X tubes followed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). To gain insight into the correlations between VOCs, multivariate data analysis was used to assess the similarities and differences between datasets. Special attention was paid to benzene, 1,3-butadiene and 1,2-dichloroethane, because they are carcinogenic and are produced, handled and stored in the petrochemical industrial areas studied. The compounds found in the highest concentrations were alkanes, which were 21-66% of the total. Aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents were also detected at all the sampling sites, with BTEX and ethanol as the most prevalent compounds. Various concentration peaks of up to 4.8 mu g m(-3) for benzene and up to 4.0 mu g m(-3) for 1,3-butadiene were detected during the monitoring campaigns performed. Nevertheless, the average concentrations of these two compounds were always below the values set in the current air quality regulations, with maximum values of 1.3 mu g m(-3) for benzene and 1.5 mu g m(-3) for 1,3-butadiene near the North industrial park of Tarragona. Multivariate analysis results revealed four different patterns at the reference sites and discriminated between the sampling sites close to the petrochemical areas evaluated. The autumn-winter months, with thermal inversion phenomena and prevailing north and north-westerly winds, were the ones with the highest concentration level
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Vallecillos, L; Riu, J; Marce, RM; Borrull, F
    Department: Química Analítica i Química Orgànica
    URV's Author/s: Borrull Ballarín, Francesc / Marcé Recasens, Rosa Maria / Riu Rusell, Jordi / VALLECILLOS MARSAL, LAURA
    Keywords: Volatile organic compounds Vocs Urban Thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry Source apportionment Risk-assessment Petrochemical areas Passive sampling Particulate matter Indoor Health-risk Exposure Emissions Air monitoring 1,3-butadiene
    Abstract: This study reports a three-year monitoring campaign of 62 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of increasing concern in urban atmospheres near petrochemical industrial areas. A total of 770 air samples were taken during the sampling campaigns conducted monthly between January 2019 and December 2021. The analytical method applied involved a 14-day passive sampling in Carbopack X tubes followed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). To gain insight into the correlations between VOCs, multivariate data analysis was used to assess the similarities and differences between datasets. Special attention was paid to benzene, 1,3-butadiene and 1,2-dichloroethane, because they are carcinogenic and are produced, handled and stored in the petrochemical industrial areas studied. The compounds found in the highest concentrations were alkanes, which were 21-66% of the total. Aromatic hydrocarbons and solvents were also detected at all the sampling sites, with BTEX and ethanol as the most prevalent compounds. Various concentration peaks of up to 4.8 mu g m(-3) for benzene and up to 4.0 mu g m(-3) for 1,3-butadiene were detected during the monitoring campaigns performed. Nevertheless, the average concentrations of these two compounds were always below the values set in the current air quality regulations, with maximum values of 1.3 mu g m(-3) for benzene and 1.5 mu g m(-3) for 1,3-butadiene near the North industrial park of Tarragona. Multivariate analysis results revealed four different patterns at the reference sites and discriminated between the sampling sites close to the petrochemical areas evaluated. The autumn-winter months, with thermal inversion phenomena and prevailing north and north-westerly winds, were the ones with the highest concentration levels of VOCs.
    Thematic Areas: Waste management and disposal Química Pollution Medicina ii Medicina i Interdisciplinar Geografía Geociências Environmental sciences Engenharias ii Engenharias i Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências ambientais Biodiversidade Atmospheric science Astronomia / física
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: jordi.riu@urv.cat rosamaria.marce@urv.cat francesc.borrull@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0001-5823-9223 0000-0002-5667-2899 0000-0003-2718-9336
    Record's date: 2024-08-03
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Link to the original source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1309104223003409
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: Atmospheric Pollution Research. 15 (2): 101986-
    APA: Vallecillos, L; Riu, J; Marce, RM; Borrull, F (2024). Air monitoring with passive samplers for volatile organic compounds in atmospheres close to petrochemical industrial areas. The case study of Tarragona (2019-2021). Atmospheric Pollution Research, 15(2), 101986-. DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2023.101986
    Article's DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2023.101986
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2024
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Atmospheric Science,Environmental Sciences,Pollution,Waste Management and Disposal
    Volatile organic compounds
    Vocs
    Urban
    Thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
    Source apportionment
    Risk-assessment
    Petrochemical areas
    Passive sampling
    Particulate matter
    Indoor
    Health-risk
    Exposure
    Emissions
    Air monitoring
    1,3-butadiene
    Waste management and disposal
    Química
    Pollution
    Medicina ii
    Medicina i
    Interdisciplinar
    Geografía
    Geociências
    Environmental sciences
    Engenharias ii
    Engenharias i
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências ambientais
    Biodiversidade
    Atmospheric science
    Astronomia / física
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