Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, posing significant adverse impacts on air quality and human health. However, current research on atmospheric VOCs mainly focuses on specific regions or industries, without comprehensive national-level analysis. In this study, a tota...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yangbing Wei, Xuexue Jing, Yaping Chen, Wenxin Sun, Yuzhe Zhang, Rencheng Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/787
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846152376362205184
author Yangbing Wei
Xuexue Jing
Yaping Chen
Wenxin Sun
Yuzhe Zhang
Rencheng Zhu
author_facet Yangbing Wei
Xuexue Jing
Yaping Chen
Wenxin Sun
Yuzhe Zhang
Rencheng Zhu
author_sort Yangbing Wei
collection DOAJ
description Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, posing significant adverse impacts on air quality and human health. However, current research on atmospheric VOCs mainly focuses on specific regions or industries, without comprehensive national-level analysis. In this study, a total of 99 articles on atmospheric VOCs in China published from 2015 to 2024 were screened, and data on their concentrations, source apportionment, and health risks were extracted and summarized. The results revealed that the annual average concentrations of TVOCs and their groups in China generally increased and then decreased between 2011 and 2022, peaking in 2018–2019. A distinct seasonal pattern was observed, with the highest concentrations occurring in winter, followed by autumn, spring, and summer. TVOC emissions were highly concentrated in northern and eastern China, mainly contributed by alkanes and alkenes. Source apportionment of VOCs indicated that vehicle sources (32.9% ± 14.3%), industrial emissions (18.0% ± 12.8%), and other combustion sources (13.0% ± 13.0%) were the primary sources of VOCs in China. There was a significant positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between the annual mean VOC concentration and population size, and a notable negative correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with GDP per capita. Atmospheric VOCs had no non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 0.5) but exhibited a probable carcinogenic risk (7.5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>), with relatively high values for 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and naphthalene. The health risk was predominantly driven by halocarbons. These findings are essential for a better understanding of atmospheric VOCs and for developing more targeted VOC control measures.
format Article
id doaj-art-d8b3bc18c91e4979b97d9ba82f297f9c
institution Kabale University
issn 2305-6304
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-d8b3bc18c91e4979b97d9ba82f297f9c2024-11-26T18:23:46ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-10-01121178710.3390/toxics12110787Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive ReviewYangbing Wei0Xuexue Jing1Yaping Chen2Wenxin Sun3Yuzhe Zhang4Rencheng Zhu5State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, posing significant adverse impacts on air quality and human health. However, current research on atmospheric VOCs mainly focuses on specific regions or industries, without comprehensive national-level analysis. In this study, a total of 99 articles on atmospheric VOCs in China published from 2015 to 2024 were screened, and data on their concentrations, source apportionment, and health risks were extracted and summarized. The results revealed that the annual average concentrations of TVOCs and their groups in China generally increased and then decreased between 2011 and 2022, peaking in 2018–2019. A distinct seasonal pattern was observed, with the highest concentrations occurring in winter, followed by autumn, spring, and summer. TVOC emissions were highly concentrated in northern and eastern China, mainly contributed by alkanes and alkenes. Source apportionment of VOCs indicated that vehicle sources (32.9% ± 14.3%), industrial emissions (18.0% ± 12.8%), and other combustion sources (13.0% ± 13.0%) were the primary sources of VOCs in China. There was a significant positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between the annual mean VOC concentration and population size, and a notable negative correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) with GDP per capita. Atmospheric VOCs had no non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 0.5) but exhibited a probable carcinogenic risk (7.5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>), with relatively high values for 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and naphthalene. The health risk was predominantly driven by halocarbons. These findings are essential for a better understanding of atmospheric VOCs and for developing more targeted VOC control measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/787VOCsChinasource apportionmenthealth risk assessment
spellingShingle Yangbing Wei
Xuexue Jing
Yaping Chen
Wenxin Sun
Yuzhe Zhang
Rencheng Zhu
Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
Toxics
VOCs
China
source apportionment
health risk assessment
title Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
title_full Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
title_fullStr Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
title_full_unstemmed Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
title_short Spatial–Temporal Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Health Risks of Atmospheric Volatile Organic Compounds in China: A Comprehensive Review
title_sort spatial temporal characteristics source apportionment and health risks of atmospheric volatile organic compounds in china a comprehensive review
topic VOCs
China
source apportionment
health risk assessment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/787
work_keys_str_mv AT yangbingwei spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview
AT xuexuejing spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview
AT yapingchen spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview
AT wenxinsun spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview
AT yuzhezhang spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview
AT renchengzhu spatialtemporalcharacteristicssourceapportionmentandhealthrisksofatmosphericvolatileorganiccompoundsinchinaacomprehensivereview