Nonmethane Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air of Hazy and Normal Days in Foshan, South China

摘要

A first study of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on hazy and normal days was performed in Foshan for providing deep insight into the local deteriorating air quality. Ethane, propane, i-pentane, ethene, propene, ethyne, benzene, and toluene were eight most abundant compounds, accounting for 71%–85% of total NMHCs. Most hydrocarbons showed much higher levels on hazy days than normal days together with hydrocarbon/ethyne ratios and diurnal variations, indicating hazy days are more dominated by vehicular emission. Correlation coefficients (R2) of ethane, propane, ethane, propene, benzene, and total NMHCs with ethyne were 0.62–0.83, indicating these compounds are mainly related to vehicular emission. R2 analysis indicated that solvent usage is responsible for toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., ethylbezene). Benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio was 0.44±0.23 during whole sampling periods, again indicating vehicular emission is the dominant source. Lower B/T ratio (0.30±0.14) on hazy days than that (0.58±0.21) on normal days suggested that solvent usage emitted toluene.