Abstract
The concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere were measured from the Yochon Industrial Estate and compared with those from Tongkwangyang and Seoul. The first important phenomenon observed in the air of Yochon was high concentrations of alkenes and in particular, ethylene and propene. For most dominant species, their means and standard deviations were high simultaneously. Concentrations of several major aliphatic species exhibited a similar pattern of diurnal variation, however, with different species combination on each day. Concentrations of several hazardous aromatic species also exhibited a similar pattern of diurnal variation on the same day, which was different from that observed in the diurnal variation of major aliphatic species. It was interpreted that some species were intermittently released from relevant processes. It was also understood that high concentrations and variations of VOC species in Yochon were localized and not related to high average concentrations of ozone in Yochon and Tongkwangyang areas.
