Biogenic volatile organic compounds from the urban forest of the Metropolitan Region, Chile

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2013-12, Vol.183, p.143-150
• Main Authors: Préndez, Margarita, Carvajal, Virginia, Corada, Karina, Morales, Johanna, Alarcón, Francis, Peralta, Hugo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Automation; BVOCs; Chile; Cities; desorption; Dispersed sources and other; emissions factor; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Exotic and native arboreal species; forests; indigenous species; introduced species; Metropolitan Region; nitrogen oxides; Nitrogen Oxides - analysis; Organic compounds; Ozone; Ozone - analysis; Photochemical; Photochemical Ozone Creation Index; Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Reforestation; spring; summer; Terpenes; Terpenes - analysis; terpenoids; Trees; Trees - physiology; troposphere; volatile organic compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds - analysis
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.04.003

Tropospheric ozone is a secondary pollutant whose primary sources are volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. The national standard is exceeded on a third of summer days in some areas of the Chilean Metropolitan Region (MR). This study reports normalized springtime experimental emissions factors (EF) for biogenic volatile organic compounds from tree species corresponding to approximately 31% of urban trees in the MR. A Photochemical Ozone Creation Index (POCI) was calculated using Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential of quantified terpenes. Ten species, natives and exotics, were analysed using static enclosure technique. Terpene quantification was performed using GC-FID, thermal desorption, cryogenic concentration and automatic injection. Observed EF and POCI values for terpenes from exotic species were 78 times greater than native values; within the same family, exotic EF and POCI values were 28 and 26 times greater than natives. These results support reforestation with native species for improved urban pollution management. First experimental determination of the emission factors of biogenic volatile organic compounds in the urban forest of the Metropolitan Region, Chile.