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Process-specific volatile organic compounds emission characteristics, environmental impact and health risk assessments of the petrochemical industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

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Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration, source profiles, O3 and SOA formation, and health risks were investigated in the petrochemical industry in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. The results showed that total VOCs concentrations were 547.1–1956.5 μg·m−3, and alkanes were the most abundant group in all processes (31.4%–54.6%), followed by alkenes (20.6%–29.2%) and aromatics (10.1%–25.1%). Moreover, ethylene (11.3%), iso-pentane (7.1%), n-hexane (5.1%), benzene (4.9%) and 2,2-dimethylbutae (4.8%) were identified as the top five species released for the whole petrochemical industry. The coefficient of divergence between the source profiles from different processes was 0.49–0.73, indicating that most source profiles must not be similar. Moreover, because of the different raw materials and technologies used, the source profiles in this study are significantly different from those of other regions. The ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation potentials (OFPs and SOAPs) were evaluated, suggesting that ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, m,p-xylene, and 1,3-butadiene should be preferentially controlled to reduce OFPs. That benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, isopropylbenzene, o-ethyltoluene, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene should be priority control compounds for SOAPs. Additionally, the total hazard ratio for non-cancer risk ranged from 0.9 to 7.7, and only living area was unlikely to be related to adverse health effects. Cancer risks associated with organic chemicals, rubber synthesis, oil refining, and wastewater collection and treatment have definite risks, whereas other processes have probable risks. This study provides a scientific basis for VOCs emission control and management and guides human health in the petrochemical industry.

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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or its supplementary materials].

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Funding

This research is supported by the “key factors of atmospheric ozone formation and peak clipping control in Beijing” of Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project (Z211100004321006), and the pre-research project of coordinated prevention and control of compound pollution of O3 and PM2.5 “Research on control strategies and measures related to VOCs industry classification” Additionally, we are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Municipal Research Institute of Eco-Environmental Protection, Beijing, 100037, China

    Zhe Lv, Xiaoyu Liu, Huahua Bai, Lei Nie & Guohao Li

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Control and Application, Beijing, 100037, China

    Zhe Lv, Xiaoyu Liu, Huahua Bai, Lei Nie & Guohao Li

Authors
  1. Zhe Lv
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  2. Xiaoyu Liu
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  3. Huahua Bai
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  4. Lei Nie
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  5. Guohao Li
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Conceptualization, formal analysis, writing—Original Draft were performed by Zhe Lv. Data Curation, investigation were conducted by Xiaoyu Liu. Validation, project administration, and supervision were performed by Huahua Bai and Lei Nie. Methodology, resources and commentary or revision were conducted by Guohao Li. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Guohao Li.

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Title in English: Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Title of article: Process-specific volatile organic compounds emission characteristics, environmental impact and health risk assessments of the petrochemical industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Names of all contributions: Zhe Lv, Xiaoyu Liu, Huahua Baia, Lei Nie, Guohao Li.

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Lv, Z., Liu, X., Bai, H. et al. Process-specific volatile organic compounds emission characteristics, environmental impact and health risk assessments of the petrochemical industry in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 3938–3950 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31351-5

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