[Pollution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Atmospheric VOCs in Chengdu].

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in atmospheric samples collected from urban and roadside atmospheric environments in Chengdu in September 2012. The composition, chemical reactivity, and concentration level and its variation characteristics of VOCs were studied, and the health risk of aromatic compounds was assessed. Results showed that the mean mass concentrations of total VOCs (TVOCs) were (108.57±52.43) μg·m-3 and (132.61±49.31) μg·m-3 for the urban and roadside atmospheric environments, respectively. The highest mass concentrations were observed for alkanes, followed by aromatics, alkenes, and alkynes. Aromatics and alkenes contributed more to ozone formation potential (OFP) of the urban and roadside atmospheric environments, and m/p-xylene, toluene, ethene, o-xylene, and propene were the key reactive species. The values of hazard quotient and hazard index were less than 1 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene (BTEX), showing that they had no appreciable risk of non-cancer health effects on the exposed population. However, the value of cancer risk was above the safety threshold for benzene, showing that it was a potential cancer risk to the exposed population.

• Authors: You-Ping Li, Ya Tang, Zhong-Yu Fan, Min Pu, Jin-Lian Zhang, Zheng-Zheng Yang, Da-Lei Wu
• Journal: Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue (Huan Jing Ke Xue) Vol. 39 Issue 2 Pg. 576-584 (Feb 08 2018) ISSN: 0250-3301 [Print] China
• PMID: 29964818 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Air Pollutants
• Volatile Organic Compounds
• Ozone

Topics

• Air Pollutants (analysis)
• China
• Environmental Monitoring
• Ozone (analysis)
• Risk Assessment
• Volatile Organic Compounds (analysis)