Non-methane volatile organic compound measurements in the city centre of Wroclaw, Poland

During the measurement campaign performed in August/ September 2005 non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) were studied at different locations in the city of Wroclaw, Poland. The measurements covered NMVOCs in the range of C1-C10. Samples were collected using Carbotrap and Carbosieve SIII solid adsorption tubes and analysed off-line by thermal desorption and GC-FID analysis. Measurements were performed on purpose to assess the contribution of different emission categories to the observed NMVOC concentrations by using chemical mass balance modelling. Profiles of volatile organic compounds for traffic emission were measured in a downtown intersection and during driving through the city. Solvent emission profiles for industrial sources were measured in the vicinity of different factories in Wroclaw. To obtain the ambient NMVOC concentrations sampling were performed at different points located in Wroclaw. The sampling sites represented residential, industrial, mixed settings and an area down-wind from the city centre. All measured traffic profiles were found to be very similar. The same distribution could be observed for an intersection and street driving. Obtained industrial profiles differed significantly from factory to factory. Delivered emission fingerprints were characteristic for particular solvent factories and agreed well with their emission inventory.