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HYDROCARBON AND CARBONYL OZONE PRECURSORS IN MEXICO CITY AMBIENT AIR
Citation:
Arriaga, J. L., G. Martinez, S. Escalona, Y. Figueroa, H. Martinez, AND R L. Seila. HYDROCARBON AND CARBONYL OZONE PRECURSORS IN MEXICO CITY AMBIENT AIR. Presented at Proceedings of the 1995 U.S. EPA/AWMA International Symposium on Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollutants, Pittsburgh, PA, May 16-18, 1995.
Description:
Urban air pollution is an environmental problem in many cities around the world that has serious immediate and long-term implications to the health of the population and to the physical environment. Mexico City, in particular, faces a severe air pollution problem. The city is located in a high mountain basin at subtropical latitude. The basin setting inhibits dispersions of pollution and contributes to frequent wintertime thermal inversions which further trap pollutants near the surface. The elevation and latitude combine to provide plentiful sunlight that, in comparison to more northern latitudes, is enhanced in UV radiation, which favors atmospheric photochemical reactivity to produce secondary pollutants such as ozone.
Various studies of the concentration and composition of VOCs and carbonyl compounds in ambient air have been undertaken since 1992, at four sites in Mexico City. Total non-methane VOC concentrations have been usually high, ranging from 1.10 to 7.70 ppmC. The carbonyl species so far quantified are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone and propionaldehyde.
This paper has been reviewed in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.