• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.169-177
• /
• 2001

The concentrations of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOC) were investigated from the Kwangju area. A total number of sixty six sample were collected and analyzed during day/night periods from June to September 1999. Each of the canister sample ws analyzed for alkane and aromatic compounds using a GC/MSD sys-tem. The concentration of VOC in mean day/night time, when compared, was in the order: toluene(16%)> isobu-tane(14%)= acethylene(14%)> propane(12%)> ethane(11%)> butane(9%). The VOC concentrations were gene-rally higher during the daytime than the nighttime. The VOC with light weight(such as an alkane group, $C_2$-C(suh)5) showed generally higher concentrations during day/nighttime than the VOC with heavy weight (such as an aromatic group). High correlations were among the VOC emitted from the similar sources.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.20 no.2 s.49
• /
• pp.167-178
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the temporal, spatial, and seasonal variations of VOC, and to characterize the VOC concentrations in two large industrial complexes located in Pohang and Gumi cities. Twenty -four hours continuous sampling of selected VOC was made with STS 25 sequential tube samplers and double-bed adsorbent tubes. Air samples were collected every three hour interval for 7 consecutive days in each site during summer and winter. VOC were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS. A total of 27 VOCs of environmental concern were determined, including aliphatic, aromatic and halides. Generally. concentrations of toxic VOC were higher in Gumi than Pohang, and VOC levels in industrial areas were typically several-fold higher than those in residential areas. The most abundant VOC appeared to be toluene for both cities. However, chlorinated VOC were higher in Gumi than Pohang, while aromatic VOC were more abundant in Pohang than in Gumi. Two cities showed relatively different variations of VOC concentrations within a day. It is likely that traffic related sources are major factors affecting the VOC in Pohang, and industrial solvents usages are important sources in Gumi. These results imply that the occurrence and levels of atmospheric VOC are strongly dependent on the type of industries in each city. Therefore, in order to develop any control strategies or to establish the priority rankings for VOC in large industrial complexes, the type of industries and the occurrence of VOC in the atmosphere should be taken into consideration.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
• /
• 2007.10a
• /
• pp.147-148
• /
• 2007

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.431-435
• /
• 2005

In order to evaluate the hazardous effects of environmental tobacco smoking (ETS), we measured the concentrations of major aromatic VOC from those who decided to participate in a program to quit smoking. By acquiring the air samples both before and after quitting smoking (QS), we were able to compare their BTEX concentration levels in their breathing air. The results of our study clearly showed that BTEX levels in respiring air samples were significantly high prior to the QS period. It was found that toluene maintained the highest concentration levels both before and after the QS period. However, the level of reduction was most significant in the case of benzene, as it was decreased 10 times from 4.8 to 0.46 ppb. When their reduced BTEX levels are compared to those who never smoked before, differences were not significant enough to distinguish in statistical terms. The overall results of this preliminary study suggest that BTEX levels in breathing air samples can be used as one of the most sensitive signals to judge the effect of QS.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2010

The removal characteristics for aromatic and aliphatic VOCs by electron beam (EB) were discussed in terms of several removal variables such as initial VOC concentration, absorbed dose, background gas, moisture content, reactor material and inlet temperature. It was reviewed that only reactor material was an independent variable among the potential control factors concerned. It was also suggested that main mechanism by EB should be radical reaction for the VOC removal rather than that by primary electrons. It was discussed that the removal efficiency of benzene was lower than that of hexane due to a closed benzene ring. In the case of aromatic VOCs, it was observed that the decomposition of the VOCs with more functional groups attached on the benzene ring was much easier than those with less ones. As for aliphatic VOCs, it was also implied that the longer carbon chain was, the higher the removal efficiency became. An EB-catalyst hybrid system was discussed as an alternative way to remove VOCs more effectively than EB-only system due to much less by-products. This hybrid included supporting materials such as cordierite, Y-zeolite, and $\gamma$-alumina.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.42-54
• /
• 2010

Automobile emissions have caused a major hydrocarbon pollution problem in the ambient air of many cities around the world. This study was conducted to measure the pollution status of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some urban residential areas in Seoul, Korea. A total of 20 VOCs (11 aromatic and 9 chlorinated species) were identified at 4 urban residential sites in Seoul, Korea from February 2009 to July 2009. Comparison of total VOC (TVOC) concentration data indicated the dominance of the aromatic species with the maximum (72.2 ppbC) at Jong Ro (JR) and the minimum at Yang Jae (33.4 ppbC). The peak concentration of TVOC occurred during spring at all sites with an exception at Gang Seo (GS), where it was recorded during winter. The distribution of individual VOCs at the study sites was characterized by high toluene concentration. A strong correlation of benzene was also observed with other VOCs and criteria pollutants at all sites (except YJ). The overall results of this study suggest that vehicular emissions have greatly contributed to the increase in VOC pollution at all the study sites.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.151-157
• /
• 1996

Vehicle occupant exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) continues to be the subject of active research because of higher levels of VOCs in vehicles than in the surrounding ambient atmosphere and because of potential health risk. This study identified in-auto and in-bus exposures to 6 selected aromatic VOCs during rush-hour driving. A bus service route was selected to include an urban route (Taegu) and a suburban route (Hayang-Up) to satisfy the specified criteria of this study. The most abundant VOC concentration measured in this study was toluene. In-vehicle target Voc concentrations of the urban route were significantly different from those of the suburban segment. On the sum of average of the target VOCs, in-auto VOC concentration was about 1.5 times higher than in-bus VOC concentration. Based on the sum of average, in-automobile target VOC concentrations of this study were within the range of previous studies conducted in several cities of the United States, while in-bus VOC concentrations of this study were much lower than those of Taipei in Taiwan. In-vehicle VOC concentrations of present study significantly varied with sampling days, while they did not varied with driving period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.363-376
• /
• 2003

In this study, the fugitive emission characteristics of airborne volatile organic compounds from different source categories were evaluated with respect to the concentrations measured in the vicinity of the sources. A total of 22 different sources were investigated, including gasoline storage and filling stations, painting spray booth, laundry, printing officer, textile industries, and a number of environmental sanitary facilities such as landfill, wastewater treatment and incineration plants. The target VOCs included 83 individual compounds, which were determined by adsorption sampling and thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS analysis. Overall, the aliphatic compounds appeared to be the most abundant class of compounds in terms of their concentrations, followed by aromatic, and halogenated hydrocarbons. As a single compound, however, toluene was the most abundant one, explaining 11% of the total VOC concentrations as an average of all the dataset. Among source categories, petroleum associated sources such as gasoline storage/filling stations, and laundry factory were identified as the most significant sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons, while aromatic VOCs were dominantly emitted from the sources handling organic solvents, such as painting booth, printing offices, and textile dyeing processes. However. there was no apparent pattern in terms of the contributions of eath group to the total VOCs concentrations in environmental sanitary facilities. It was also found that the activated carbon adsorption tower installed for the VOC emission control in some facilities do not show any effective performances, which may result in the increased VOC levels in the ambient atmosphere.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.4 no.5
• /
• pp.61-61
• /
• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.4 no.5
• /
• pp.447-459
• /
• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.