Volatile organic compounds in a typical petrochemical production area in Shanghai, China: Source profiles, human health and environmental impacts

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from industrial facilities include significant precursors to the formation of aerosols and ozone in urban areas, often affecting atmospheric environments and public health. By investigating the VOC emission profiles across nine petrochemical production units, the predominant component in VOC emission profiles was alkanes, followed by oxygenated VOCs, aromatics, halocarbons, and alkenes. Aldehydes were identified as major contributors to odorous pollution. Chloroform, benzene, and 1,2-dibromoethane from petrochemical industry emissions exceeded health thresholds and will require targeted reduction measures. Additionally, three years of ambient VOC measurements (2020–2022) at two typical sites were analyzed to clarify VOC pollution characteristics and environmental impacts. The VOCs measured at both the Jiangwan residential (JW) and petrochemical industrial (PI) sites exhibited similar diurnal variations but different seasonal patterns. Source apportionment of VOCs using a positive matrix factorization model revealed five sources at PI and six sources at JW. Specific VOCs (e.g., dichloromethane) identified at JW were related to the petrochemical industry and solvent usage processes. Quantification of VOC photochemical reactivity indicated that the aromatic industry and solvent usage from the petrochemical industry significantly contributed more to both ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation potential than other sources, which underscores the need for stringent control measures by policymakers, particularly focusing on aromatic hydrocarbon production processes and the adoption of green solvents. The findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted VOC control strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on human health and environmental quality in regions heavily influenced by petrochemical activities.