Ozone Formation Potential and Toxicity Potential of VOCs emissions from a Nigerian petroleum products depot
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Date
2020-09-21
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Islamic Azad University
Abstract
Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major causes of tropospheric ozone and aerosol
pollutions. This research provided information on ozone formation potential (OFP) and toxicity potential (TP)
resulting from VOCs emission from a Nigeria petroleum depot. In this work, speciated VOCs were provided on
basis of updated emissions within and around the depot. The observed concentration of individual VOCs and
maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) coefficient were applied to assess the OFP of individual VOC in the ambient
atmosphere. Major aromatic VOCs species were considered at various locations. The total OFP in the atmosphere of
the depot is 1522.42 μg O3/m3. Toluene specie was revealed to be major contributor to OFP with 71.47% while
others species were in descending order of benzene (9.16%), m-xylene (8.41%), ethyl benzene (3.98%), p-xylene
(3.51%) and o-xylene (3.46%). The TP levels of aerosols pollutions were also reported with respect to locations. The
Slop tank area had the highest OFP and TP level. An assessment of TP level and OFP suggests that occupants of
some location within the depot are exposed to unhealthy air conditions. The study established that OFP and TP have
a relationship within the atmosphere of the depot with respect to location. It is recommended that aggressive
controlled measures of VOCs sources should be adopted within the petroleum depot as a way of curtailing the
impact of tropospheric ozone and aerosol pollutions.
Description
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are most crucial
hydrocarbon air pollutants found in petroleum depot
facility and refinery and major participants in
atmospheric photochemical processes. The air
pollutions caused by VOCs most especially aromatic
VOCs are known to have direct and indirect impact
on climate change, photochemical smog, the
ecosystem and human health. Aromatic VOCs play
important roles in the increase formation of ozone,
secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and other
secondary pollutants (Liu et al., 2008) through their
reaction with atmospheric radicals like hydroxyl
(OH), nitrate (NO3) and chlorine (CL) in presence of
sunlight. Studies on the relationship of VOCs profiles
and emission sources in ozone incidence in regions
have shown that ozone formation potential is
dependent on VOCs emissions (Lee et al., 2002).
Ozone and other oxidized products (atmospheric
aerosols) in photochemical smog are formed from
the particle- gas phase reaction of oxides of nitrogen
(NOX) and VOCs
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Citation
Muhibbu-din E.I. (2020): Ozone Formation Potential and Toxicity Potential of VOCs emissions from a Nigerian petroleum products depot. Anthropogenic Pollution. 4 (2); 8-14