Assessment of Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Near Major Roads in Konya City, Turkey

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been known as human risk factors in urban environments, as well as primary contributors to the formation of photochemical oxidants. These compounds are a major component of atmospheric pollutants in Konya, that is a large city in Turkey. This study assessed the concentrations of seven volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including Ethylbenzene, m/p xylene, styrene, o- xylene, 1,3,5 Trimethylbenzene, 1,2,4 Trimethylbenzene and 1,2,3 Trimethylbenzene, in Konya/Turkey during the period of August 2007-June 2008. Air samples were collected according to standard method developed by NIOSH using activated charcoal tubes and quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection in the selected ion-monitoring mode (GC-MS-SIM). The seven VOCs were largely found in gas phase due to their high vapor pressures. m-p xylen and o-xylen were the most abundant compounds. The results show that traffic-related exposure to VOCs in major road microenvironments is higher than elsewhere and poses a potential threat to pedestrians, commuters, and traffic-exposed workers.