Nonmethane Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air of Hazy and Normal Days in Foshan, South China

A first study of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) on hazy and normal days was performed in Foshan for providing deep insight into the local deteriorating air quality. Ethane, propane, i-pentane, ethene, propene, ethyne, benzene, and toluene were eight most abundant compounds, accounting for 71%-85% of total NMHCs. Most hydrocarbons showed much higher levels on hazy days than normal days together with hydrocarbon/ethyne ratios and diurnal variations, indicating hazy days are more dominated by vehicular emission. Correlation coefficients (R-2) of ethane, propane, ethane, propene, benzene, and total NMHCs with ethyne were 0.62-0.83, indicating these compounds are mainly related to vehicular emission. R-2 analysis indicated that solvent usage is responsible for toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., ethylbezene). Benzene/toluene (B/T) ratio was 0.44 +/- 0.23 during whole sampling periods, again indicating vehicular emission is the dominant source. Lower B/T ratio (0.30 +/- 0.14) on hazy days than that (0.58 +/- 0.21) on normal days suggested that solvent usage emitted toluene.