Concentration Distribution of Toxic Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons in Gyeonggi-do’s Atmosphere

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Research article

Journal of the Korean Society for Environmental Analysis 2018;21(1):11-23.

경기도 대기 중 유해 휘발성유기화합물질 분포 특성

김동기, 송일석, 우정식, 배용수, 이용기, 박익범, 한현수, 김용준, 김종수

경기도보건환경연구원

Abstract

This study examines the characteristics of 43 toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in roadside, residential, and industrial complex areas located in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene isomers (BTEX), and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene were frequently detected in each study region. The seasonal concentrations fluctuated throughout the year, with high values observed in fall and winter, and low values observed in summer, primarily due to photo degradation and washout associated with summer rainfall. Variations in wind speed induced by temperature inversion during night-time hour and photochemical degradation during day-time hours also appeared to influence variations in contaminant concentrations, with concentrations at night-time being 1.8 times those in day-time. The percentage of VOC distribution for roadsideresidential, industrial, and industrial-roadside areas were 79%, 8%, and 8%, respectively.

Key Words: Toxic volatile organic compounds, Detection frequency, Seasonal concentration, Day-time concentration, Night-time concentration