Volatile Profiles of Emissions from Different Activities Analyzed Using Canister Samplers and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Analysis: A Case Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 15;14(2):195. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14020195.

Abstract

The objective of present study was to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from several sources (fuels, traffic, landfills, coffee roasting, a street-food laboratory, building work, indoor use of incense and candles, a dental laboratory, etc.) located in Palermo (Italy) by using canister autosamplers and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. In this study, 181 VOCs were monitored. In the atmosphere of Palermo city, propane, butane, isopentane, methyl pentane, hexane, benzene, toluene, meta- and para-xylene, 1,2,4 trimethyl benzene, 1,3,5 trimethyl benzene, ethylbenzene, 4 ethyl toluene and heptane were identified and quantified in all sampling sites.

Keywords: Palermo; canister; indoor; volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Atmosphere / chemistry*
  • Cities
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Italy
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Volatile Organic Compounds