Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of seasonal variations in abundance of BTXE hydrocarbons and their ozone forming potential in ambient urban atmosphere of Dehradun (India)

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In Dehradun, ambient volatile organic compounds (VOC) samples were collected for three seasons viz. summer, winter and monsoon (during period 2012–2013) to investigate seasonal variations at five different sampling sites. The samples were quantified for aromatic VOCs by gas chromatography (GC-FID) to monitor benzene, toluene, m, p-xylene, o-xylene and ethylbenzene. BTXE comprise an important group of VOCs mostly prevalent in a typical urban environment. They were monitored because they are known to cause impacts on climate, health and on vegetation. Toluene was found to be the most abundant VOC among the measured ones in the atmosphere of Dehradun. The maximum mean concentration of VOCs was observed in winters and lowest during summers for BE species. Toluene ambient concentration was rather found to register highest during winters and lowest in monsoons. Kruskal–Wallis test showed statistically significant differences seasonally (p < 0.05). High toluene to benzene T/B (>1) observed ratio indicates vehicular emission as their major source. BTEX were also evaluated for their ozone-forming potential (OFP). Toluene and xylenes were found as the highest contributing hydrocarbons towards ozone forming potential among BTXE.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Madhoun WA, Ramli NA, Yahaya AS, Md Yusuf NFF, Ghazali NA, Sansuddin N (2011) Levels of benzene concentrations emitted from motor vehicles in various sites in Nibong Tebal, Malaysia. Air Qual Atmos Health 4:103–109

  • Alghamdi MA, Khoder M, Abdelmaksoud AS, Harrison RM, Hussein T, Lihavainen H, Al-Jeelani H, Goknil MH, Shabbaj II, Almehmadi FM, Hyvärinen A-P, Hämeri K (2014) Seasonal and diurnal variations of BTEX and their potential for ozone formation in the urban background atmosphere of the coastal city Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Air Qual Atmos Health. doi:10.1007/s11869-014-0263-x

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson R (2000) Atmospheric chemistry of VOCs and NOX. Atmos Environ 34:2063–2101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee A, Reddy KN, Paul P (2002) Application of remote sensing and GIS in demographic and socio-economic analysis of Dehradun city. Indian Cartographer MUIP-6:274–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Borbon A, Locoge N, Veillerot M, Galloo JC, Guilermo R (2002) Characterisation of NMHCs in a French urban atmosphere: overview of the main sources. Sci Total Environ 292:177–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brocco D, Fratarcangeli R, Lepore L, Petricca M, Ventrone I (1997) Determination of aromatic hydrocarbons in urban air of Rome. Atmos Environ 31:557–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buczynska AJ, Krata A, Stranger M, Locateli Godoi AF, Kontozova-Deutsch V, Bencs L, Naveau I, Roekens E, Van Grieken R (2009) Atmospheric BTEX-concentrations in an area with intensive street traffic. Atmos Environ 43(2):311–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter WPL (1994) Development of ozone reactivity scales for volatile organic compounds. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 44:881–899

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caselli M, de Gennaro G, Marzocca A, Trizio L, Tutino M (2010) Assessment of the impact of the vehicular traffic on BTEX concentration in ring roads in urban areas of Bari (Italy). Chemosphere 81(3):306–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cerón JG, Ramírez E, Cerón RM, Carballo C, Aguilar C, López U, Ramírez A, Gracia Y, Naal D, Campero A, Guerra J, Guevara E (2013) Diurnal and seasonal variation of BTX in ambient air of one urban site in Carmen City, Campeche, Mexico. J Environ Prot 4(08):40–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhary S, Kumar A (2012) Monitoring of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) concentrations in ambient air in Firozabad, India. Int Arch Appl Sci Technol 3(2):92–96

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chauhan A, Pawar M, Kumar R, Joshi P (2010) Ambient air quality status in Uttarakhand (India): a case study of Haridwar and Dehradun using air quality index. Am J Sci 6(9):565–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciccioli P, Brancaleoni E, Frattoni M, Cecinato A, Brachetti A (1993) Ubiquitous occurrence of semi-volatile carbonyl compounds in troposphere samples and their possible sources. Atmos Environ Part A General Topics 27(12):1891–1901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPCB (2010) Study of urban air quality in Kolkata for source identification and estimation of ozone, carnonyls, NOX and VOC emissions. Control of Urban Pollution Series, Central Pollution Control board, Ministry of Environment and Forests. http://cpcb.nic.in/upload/NewItems/NewItem_160_cups.pdf. Accessed by August 2010

  • Czader BH, Byun DW, Kim S-T, Carter WPL (2008) A study of VOC reactivity in the Housten-Galveston air mixture utilizing an extended version of SAPRC-99 chemical mechanism. Atmos Environ 42:5733–5742

  • Demeestere K, Dewulf J, Witte BD, Langenhove HV (2007) Sample preparation for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in air and water matrices. J Chromatogr A 1153:130–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan J, Tan J, Yang L, Wu S, Hao J (2008) Concentration, sources and ozone formation potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during ozone episode in Beijing. Atmos Res 88:25–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elbir T, Cetin B, Cetin E, Bayram A, Odabasi M (2007) Characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their sources in the air of Izmir, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 133:149–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernàndez-Villarrenga V, Mahia PL, Lorenzo SM, Rodríguez DP, Fernández EF, Tomas X (2004) C1 to C9 volatile organic compound measurements in urban air. Sci Total Environ 334–335:167–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gee IL, Sollars CJ (1998) Ambient air levels of volatile organic compounds in Latin American and Asian cities. Chemosphere 36(11):2497–2506

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gelencsér A, Siszler K, Hlavay J (1997) Toluene-benzene concentration ratio as a tool for characterizing the distance from vehicular emission sources. Environ Sci Technol 31:2869–2872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grosjean E, Rasmussen RA, Grosjean D (1998) Ambient levels of gas phase pollutants in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Atmos Environ 32(20):3371–3379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo H, So KL, Simpson IJ, Barletta B, Meinardi S, Blake DR (2007) C1-C8 volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere of Hong Kong: overview of atmospheric processing and source apportionment. Atmos Environ 41:1456–1472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakola H, Tarvainen V, Laurila T, Hiltunen V, Hellén H, Keronen P (2003) Seasonal variation of VOC concentration above a boreal coniferous forest. Atmos Environ 37:1623–1634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han X, Naeher LP (2006) A review of traffic-related air pollution exposure assessment studies in the developing world. Environ Int 32:106–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann R, Voght U, Baumbach G, Seyoglu R, Muezzinoglu A (1997) Results of emission and ambient air measurements of VOC in Izmir. Environ Res Forum 7(8):107–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Honour SL, Bell NB, Ashenden TW, Cape JN, Power SA (2009) Responses of herbaceous plants to urban air pollution: effects on growth, phenology and leaf surface characteristics. Environ Pollut 157:1279–1286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoque RR, Khillare PS, Agarwal T, Shridhar V, Balachandran S (2008) Spatial and temporal variation of BTEX in the urban atmosphere of Delhi, India. Sci Total Environ 392:30–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoshi JY, Amano S, Sasaki Y, Korenaga T (2008) Investigation and estimation of emission sources of 54 volatile organic compounds in ambient air in Tokyo. Atmos Environ 42:2383–2393, http://dehradun.nic.in/

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC (1995) Monograph on the evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans. Geneva World Health Organ 63:75–159

    Google Scholar 

  • International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC 2004. Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, tobacco smoke and involuntary smoking, World Health Organization. 83. Source :http://monographs.iarc.fr

  • Jia C, Batterman S, Godwin C (2008) VOCs in industrial, urban and suburban neighbourhoods, Part 1: indoor and outdoor concentrations, variation, and risk drivers. Atmos Environ 42:2083–2100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kerbachi R, Boughedaoui M, Bounoua L, Keddam M (2006) Ambient air pollution by aromatic hydrocarbons in Algiers. Atmos Environ 40:3995–4003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kesselmeier J, Schakfer L, Ciccioli P, Brancaleoni E, Cecinato A, Frattoni M, Foster P, Jacob V, Denis J, Fugit JL, Dutaur L, Torres L (1996) Emission of monoterpenes and isoprene from a Mediterranean oak species Quercus ilex L. measured within the BEMA (Biogenic Emissions in the Mediterranean Area) project. Atmos Environ 30(10/11):1841–1850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoder MI (2007) Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds in the urban atmosphere of Greater Cairo. Atmos Environ 41:554–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kishore MV, Garg A, Arora O (2014) Intelligent transportation systems for traffic management in Dehradun City. Int J Sci Res 3(4):146–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Koknig G, Brunda M, Puxbaum H, Hewitt CN, Duckham SC, Rudolph J (1995) Relative contribution of oxygenated hydrocarbons to the total biogenic VOC emissions of selected mid-European agricultural and natural plant species. Atmos Environ 29(8):861–874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komenda M, Parusel E, Wedel A, Koppmann R (2001) Measurement of biogenic VOC emissions: sampling, analysis and calibration. Atmos Environ 35:2069–2080

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kountouriotis A, Aleiferis PG, Charalambides AG (2014) Numerical investigation of VOC levels in the area of petrol stations. Sci Total Environ 470–471:1205–1224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Tyagi SK (2006) Benzene and toluene profiles in ambient air of Delhi as determined by active sampling and GC analysis. J Sci Ind Res 65:252–257

  • Langford B, Nemitz E, House E, Phillips GJ, Famulari D, Davison B, Hopkins JR, Lewis AC, Hewitt CN (2010) Fluxes and concentrations of volatile organic compounds above central London, UK. Atmos Chem Phys 10:627–645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau AKH, Yuan Z, Yu JZ, Louie PKK (2010) Source apportionment of ambient volatile organic compounds in Hong Kong. Sci Total Environ 408:4138–4149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SC, Chiu MY, Ho KF, Zou SC, Wang X (2002) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban atmosphere of Hong Kong. Chemosphere 48:375–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu PWG, Yao YC, Tsai JH, Hsu YC, Chang LP, Chang KH (2008) Source impacts by volatile organic compounds in an industrial city of southern Taiwan. Sci Total Environ 398(1):154–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D, Dutta C, Mukherjee AK, Sen S (2008) Source apportionment of VOCs at the petrol pumps in Kolkata, India; exposure of workers and assessment of associated health risk. Transp Res D 13:524–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D, Mukherjeea AK, Sen S (2011) BTEX in ambient air of a metropolitan city. J Environ Prot 2:11–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D, Srivastava A (2012) Volatile organic compound emissions from municipal solid waste disposal sites: a case study of Mumbai, India. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 62(4):398–407

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martins EM, Arbilla G, Bauerfeldt GF, Paula MD (2007) Atmospheric levels of aldehydes and BTEX and their relationship with vehicular fleet changes in Rio de Janeiro urban area. Chemosphere 67:2096–2103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massolo L, Rehwagen M, Porta A, Ronco A, Herbarth O, Mueller A (2009) Indoor-outdoor distribution and risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere of industrial and urban areas. Environ Toxicol 25(4):339–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNabola A, Broderick BM, Gill LW (2008) Relative exposure to fine particulate matter and VOCs between transport microenvironments in Dublin: personal exposure and uptake. Atmos Environ 42:6496–6512

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed MF, Kang D, Aneja VP (2002) Volatile organic compounds in some urban locations in United States. Chemosphere 47:863–882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan S, Ethirajan R (2012) Assessment of hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOC) in a residential area abutting a large petrochemical complex. J Trop For Environ 2(1):48–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Muezzinoglu A, Odabasi M, Onat L (2001) Volatile organic compounds in the air of Izmir, Turkey. Atmos Environ 35:753–760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Na K, Kim YP, Moon KC (2003) Diurnal characteristics of volatile organic compounds in the Seoul atmosphere. Atmos Environ 37:733–742

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Na K, Moon KC, Kim YP (2005) Source contribution to aromatic VOC concentration and ozone formation potential in the atmosphere of Seoul. Atmos Environ 39:5517–5524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Na K, Kim YP, Moon I, Moon K-C (2004) Chemical composition of major VOC emission sources in the Seoul atmosphere. Chemosphere 55:585–594

  • Ojiodu CC, Okuo JM, Olumayede EG (2013) Spatial and temporal variability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollution in Appa industrial areas of Lagos state, Southwestern-Nigeria. J Acad Environ Sci 1(3):053–061

    Google Scholar 

  • Olumayede EG, Okuo JM (2013) Ambient air pollution and assessment of ozone creation potential for reactive volatile organic compounds in urban atmosphere of southwestern, Nigeria. Afr J Environ Sci Technol 7(8):815–823

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pandit GG, Sahu SK, Puranik VD (2011) Distribution and source apoortionment of atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons in Mumbai, India. Atmos Pollut Res 2:231–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parra MA, Elustondo D, Bermejo R, Santamaría JM (2009) Ambient air levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in a medium size city in Northern Spain. Sci Total Environ 407:999–1009

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prinn R, Cunnold D, Rasmussen R, Simmonds P, Alyea F, Crawford A (1987) Atmospheric trends in methylchloroform and the global average for the hydroxyl radical. Science 238:945–950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rad HD, Babaei AA, Goudarzi G, Angali KA, Ramezani Z, Mohammadi MM (2014) Levels and sources of BTEX in ambient air of Ahvaz metropolitan city. Air Qual Atmos Health

  • Rana S, Kant Y, Dadhwal VK (2009) Diurnal and seasonal variation of spectral properties of Aerosols over Dehradun, India. Aerosol Air Qual Res 9(1):32–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin JI, Kean AJ, Harley RA, Millet DB, Goldstein AH (2006) Temperature dependence of volatile organic compounds evaporative emissions from motor vehicles. J Geophys Res 111:D03305

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahu LK, Lal S (2006) Distributions of C2-C5 NMHCs and related trace gases at a tropical urban site in India. Atmos Environ 40:880–891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seco R, Penuclas J, Filella I (2007) Short-chain oxygenated VOCs: emission and uptake by plants and atmospheric sources, sinks, and concentrations. Atmos Environ 41:2477–2499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh AK, Tomar N, Jain CL (2012a) Monitoring, assessment and status of benzene, toluene and xylene pollution in the urban atmosphere of Delhi, India. Res J Chem Sci 2(4):45–49

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh AK, Tomar N, Jain CL (2012b) Concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban atmosphere of national capital Delhi, India. Int J Pharm Chem Biol Sci 2(2):159–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Singla V, Pachauri T, Satsangi A, Kumari M, Lakhani A (2012) Comparison of BTX profiles and their mutagenicity assessment at two sites of Agra, India. Sci World J 272853:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh O, Arya P, Chaudhary BS (2013) On rising temperature trends at Dehradun in Doon valley of Uttrakhand, India. J Earth Syst Sci 122(3):613–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • So KL, Wang T (2004) C3-C12 non-methane hydrocarbons in subtropical Hong Kong: Spatial-temporal variations, source-receptor relationships and photochemical reactivity. Sci Total Environ 328:161–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A (2005) Variability in VOC concentrations in an urban area of Delhi. Environ Monit Assess 107:363–373

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A, Joseph A, More A, Patil S (2005a) Emissions of VOCs at urban petrol retail distribution centres in India (Delhi and Mumbai). Environ Monit Assess 109:227–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A, Joseph AE, Devotta S (2006) Volatile organic compounds in ambient air of Mumbai-India. Atmos Environ 40:892–903

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A, Joseph AE, Patil S, More A, Dixit RC, Prakash M (2005b) Air toxics in ambient air of Delhi. Atmos Environ 39:59–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava A, Sengupta B, Dutta SA (2005c) Source apportionment of ambient VOCs in Delhi city. Sci Total Environ 343:207–220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suvarapu LN, Seo YK, Baekm SO (2013) Volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air of Indian cities—a review. Res J Chem Environ 17(3):67–75

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tan J-H, Guo S-J, Ma Y-L, Yang F-M, He K-B, Yu Y-C, Wang J-W, Shi Z-B, Chen G-C (2012) Non-methane hydrocarbons and their ozone formation potentials in Foshan, China. Aerosol and Air Qual Res 12:387–398. doi:10.4209/aaqr.2011.08.0127

  • Tiwari V, Hanai Y, Masunaga S (2010) Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds in the vicinity of petrochemical industrial area of Yokohama, Japan. Air Qual Atmos Health 3(2):65–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsujino Y, Kuwata K (1993) Sensitive flame ionization detector for the determination of traces of atmospheric hydrocarbons by capillary column gas chromatography. J Chromatogr 642:383–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uttaranchal Urban Development Project, UUDP (2007) Government of Uttaranchal, Revised draft final report, Appendix 1: Town Report. volume 2 of 9: 1-161

  • Villeneuve PJ, Jerett M, Su J, Burnett RT, Chen H, Brook J, Wheeler AJ, Cakmak S, Goldberg MS (2013) A cohort study of intra-urban variations in volatile organic compounds and mortality, Toronto, Canada. Environ Pollut 183:30–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Zhao W (2008) Assessment of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) near major roads in urban Nanjing, China. Atmos Res 89:289–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Ren X, Ji D, Zhang J, Sun J, Wu F (2012) Characterization of volatile organic compounds in the urban area of Beijing from 2000 to 2007. J Environ Sci 24(1):95–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2000) Air quality guidelines for Europe, in: WHO Regional Publications, European Series, second edition. 91, WHO, Copenhagen

  • Yoshikado H (1994) Meteorological structure of high-level air pollution in early winter over the Kanto Plain. J Jpn Soc Atmos Environ 29:351–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Zalel A, Yuval BDM (2008) Revealing source signatures in ambient BTEX concentrations. Environ Pollut 156:553–562

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Shao M, Che WW, Zhang L, Zhong L, Zhang Y, Streets D (2009) Speciated VOC emission inventory and spatial patterns of ozone formation potential in the Pearl River Delta, China. Environ Sci Technol 43:8580–8586

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou SC, Lee SC, Chan CY, Ho KF, Wang XM, Chan LY, Zhang ZX (2003) Characterization of ambient volatile organic compounds at a landfill site in Guangzhou, South China. Chemosphere 51(9):1015–1022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Neetu Bauri is thankful to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)for providing with financial support in the form of JRF/SRF. The authors are also thankful to Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF), JNU, New Delhi, and Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility, AIRF (JNU), New Delhi for providing the necessary analytical instrumentation facility. Also, the help from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD, Dehradun) is gratefully acknowledged for providing the metrological data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Neetu Bauri, Pradip Bauri, Krishan Kumar & V. K. Jain

Authors
  1. Neetu Bauri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pradip Bauri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Krishan Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. K. Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neetu Bauri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bauri, N., Bauri, P., Kumar, K. et al. Evaluation of seasonal variations in abundance of BTXE hydrocarbons and their ozone forming potential in ambient urban atmosphere of Dehradun (India). Air Qual Atmos Health 9, 95–106 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0313-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0313-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation