Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation
Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major pollutants that cause air pollution and are precursors that react in the air to produce secondary organic aerosol (SOA). This study attempted to elucidate the distribution characteristics of VOCs in the atmosphere of Seoul by measuring 34 types of...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220429 |
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| author | Yeonjung Lee Soo Ran Won Hye Jung Shin Dae Gon Kim Ji Yi Lee |
| author_facet | Yeonjung Lee Soo Ran Won Hye Jung Shin Dae Gon Kim Ji Yi Lee |
| author_sort | Yeonjung Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major pollutants that cause air pollution and are precursors that react in the air to produce secondary organic aerosol (SOA). This study attempted to elucidate the distribution characteristics of VOCs in the atmosphere of Seoul by measuring 34 types of VOCs in real time in the winter of 2020 and summer of 2021. The objectives of this research are as follows: (1) understand the characteristics of VOCs in Seoul and the difference between winter and summer compositions, (2) identify the main sources of VOCs in winter and summer, and (3) estimate the contribution of VOCs to the SOA formation potential in Seoul. Total VOC concentrations were found to be higher in summer (7.61 ± 4.22 ppb) than in winter (6.28 ± 4.11 ppb). To further specify the cause of the difference in major VOC components in winter and summer, a cause analysis was performed using the ratio between marker components, and an emission source analysis of VOCs was performed by applying the positive matrix factorization model (PMF). The source distribution of VOCs in Seoul was attributed to five factors: solvent usage, vehicle exhaust, industry/burning of fossil fuels, petrochemical industry, and road emission (winter)/gasoline-related (summer). The contribution of VOCs to SOA formation was estimated using the secondary organic aerosol formation potential. The results showed that toluene was the primary contributor to SOA formation in both winter and summer. In the summer, solvent usage containing high proportion of ethylbenzene and xylenes contributed more than twice as much to SOA formation compared to the winter. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-250f105c4bb44ca5b85513c9debdb595 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-250f105c4bb44ca5b85513c9debdb5952025-02-09T12:23:05ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-06-0123811710.4209/aaqr.220429Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol FormationYeonjung Lee0Soo Ran Won1Hye Jung Shin2Dae Gon Kim3Ji Yi Lee4Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Ewha Womans UniversityDepartment of Environmental Engineering and Science, Ewha Womans UniversityAir Quality Research Division, National Institute of Environmental ResearchAir Quality Research Division, National Institute of Environmental ResearchDepartment of Environmental Engineering and Science, Ewha Womans UniversityAbstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major pollutants that cause air pollution and are precursors that react in the air to produce secondary organic aerosol (SOA). This study attempted to elucidate the distribution characteristics of VOCs in the atmosphere of Seoul by measuring 34 types of VOCs in real time in the winter of 2020 and summer of 2021. The objectives of this research are as follows: (1) understand the characteristics of VOCs in Seoul and the difference between winter and summer compositions, (2) identify the main sources of VOCs in winter and summer, and (3) estimate the contribution of VOCs to the SOA formation potential in Seoul. Total VOC concentrations were found to be higher in summer (7.61 ± 4.22 ppb) than in winter (6.28 ± 4.11 ppb). To further specify the cause of the difference in major VOC components in winter and summer, a cause analysis was performed using the ratio between marker components, and an emission source analysis of VOCs was performed by applying the positive matrix factorization model (PMF). The source distribution of VOCs in Seoul was attributed to five factors: solvent usage, vehicle exhaust, industry/burning of fossil fuels, petrochemical industry, and road emission (winter)/gasoline-related (summer). The contribution of VOCs to SOA formation was estimated using the secondary organic aerosol formation potential. The results showed that toluene was the primary contributor to SOA formation in both winter and summer. In the summer, solvent usage containing high proportion of ethylbenzene and xylenes contributed more than twice as much to SOA formation compared to the winter.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220429SeoulVolatile organic compoundsSeasonal variationSource apportionmentSecondary organic aerosol formation potential |
| spellingShingle | Yeonjung Lee Soo Ran Won Hye Jung Shin Dae Gon Kim Ji Yi Lee Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation Aerosol and Air Quality Research Seoul Volatile organic compounds Seasonal variation Source apportionment Secondary organic aerosol formation potential |
| title | Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation |
| title_full | Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation |
| title_short | Seasonal Characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds in Seoul, Korea: Major Sources and Contribution to Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation |
| title_sort | seasonal characteristics of volatile organic compounds in seoul korea major sources and contribution to secondary organic aerosol formation |
| topic | Seoul Volatile organic compounds Seasonal variation Source apportionment Secondary organic aerosol formation potential |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.220429 |
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