Abstract
Preliminary investigations were carried out on the extractable organic matter in aerosols and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air of Guangzhou, Hongkong and Macao. Based on the types and abundances of biomarkers in the aliphatic and aromatic fractions of the extracts, as well as contaminant assemblages, a brief discussion has been made on the sources of organic compounds in air. Our studies reveal that organic compounds from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, especially from vehicular exhaust, predominated both in aerosols and among VOCs in these samples. However, geological dust and modern living plants also contributed to the organics in ambient air.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 164-176 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | ACS Symposium Series |
| Volume | 671 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Chemical Engineering