Title: Characterisation of non-methane organic compounds collected in an industrial urban area

Authors: Yung-Chen Yao, Pao-Wen G. Liu, Yi-Chyun Hsu, Tzi-Chin Chang, Jiun-Horng Tsai

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd. Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, No. 89, Wenhua 1st Street, Rende Shiang, Tainan 71703, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun-Shan University, 949 Da Wan Rd. Yung-Kang City, Tainan Hsien, 710, Taiwan, ROC. ' Environmental Protection Administration, 83, Sec. 1, Jhonghua Rd., Taipei City, 100, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Environment Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd. Tainan City, 701, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: The airborne Non-Methane Organic Compounds (NMOCs) were measured during rush hour and non-rush hour at two traffic sites and an industrial site in the largest industrial city in Taiwan. The results showed the major components in their NMOCs profiles were similar among the three sites. Aromatics compounds were the dominant species group (31-61%), and toluene is the major HAPs species. The results of the aging assessment of the air mass implied the NMOCs were contributed by local sources and also indicated that vehicles might be the dominant source of these compounds collected in the area.

Keywords: NMOCs; non-methane organic compounds; industrial cities; mobile sources; air mass aging; air quality; air pollution; environmental pollution; Taiwan; aromatic compounds; toluene; road traffic emissions; vehicle emissions; industrial pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.028700

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.39 No.3/4, pp.392 - 404

Published online: 23 Sep 2009 *

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