2018 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 13-24
We simultaneously surveyed the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Yokohama and Tokyo in July and August, 2014 and 2015, and analyzed the changes in the composition of the VOCs before and after the air mass was moved by the sea breeze to determine the VOCs that significantly contribute to the Ox formation in the Kanto region in the summer.
The survey showed that the total concentrations of the VOCs and ozone formation potential (OFP) in Yokohama were higher than those in Tokyo. The compositions of the aldehydes in the OFP were higher in Tokyo. On the other hand, the compositions of the alkanes and aromatics were higher in Yokohama. A comparison of the compositions in the OFP before and after the air mass was moved indicated that there was a common tendency; the OFP of the alkenes and aromatics decreased while the OFP of the aldehydes increased. In addition, as the duration of the air mass movement increased, the increasing rate of Ox went up. The components, such as m,p-xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, and m,p-ethyltoluene, decreased, which suggests that they mostly contribute to the Ox formation in the Kanto region.
