Anthropogenic VOCs

Characterizing potential wildland fire fuel in live vegetation in the Mediterranean region

“…These highly volatile compounds are emitted at an estimated rate of 1-1.5 Pg C per year on a global scale (Guenther et al 2006). BVOC emissions from vegetation fires represent a very small fraction of the overall CO/CO 2 emissions from fires, accounting for between 20 and 40 Tg year −1 , and are lower than VOC emissions associated with the production and use of fossil fuels (77.4 Tg year −1 ) (Reimann and Lewis 2007). However, some studies showed that flammability is influenced by the content of BVOCs in leaves, with ignition occurring earlier in BVOC storing and/or emitting species (Owens et al 1998;De Lillis et al 2009).…”

Measurements of volatile organic compounds at a suburban ground site (T1) in Mexico City during the MILAGRO 2006 campaign: measurement comparison, emission ratios, and source attribution

“…On a global scale, VOC emissions are dominated by isoprene, which accounts for about 65% of biogenic emissions and 40% of total VOC emissions (Guenther et al, 1995(Guenther et al, , 2006Williams and Koppmann, 2007). Biomass burning, both natural and as the result of human activity, and fossil fuel use are each thought to account for about 10% of global VOC emissions (Reimann and Lewis, 2007). Recent estimates suggest the contribution from biomass burning could be as large as 500 TgC yr −1 (Yokelson et al, 2008).…”

“…Regardless of global emissions, any of these sources can dominate locally and regionally. Anthropogenic VOC emissions often dominate in areas of high population density and contribute significantly to urban air pollution (Olivier et al, 2005;Reimann and Lewis, 2007). Air pollution is of growing international concern and contributes to approximately 2 million premature deaths per year worldwide (World Health Organization, 2008).…”

Factorization methods applied to characterize the sources of volatile organic compounds in Montreal, Quebec

“…Achieving reduction in VOC concentrations in the ambient air comparable to the reduction of the "classic" pollutants (from 1970 to 2008 particulate matter concentration in the ambient air has decreased by over 50% [13,14]) seems feasible. Source apportionment of numerous VOC species have already been examined [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. The research presents the methods of modeling the ambient VOC multi-receptors operating in the air quality monitoring stations.…”