Applying receptor models to analyze urban/suburban VOCs air anality in Martorell (Spain)

Airborne concentrations of several VOCs were measured in the city of Martorell (Spain) and analyzed by using a receptor modeling approach in order to assess the contribution of several potential sources of VOCs. In addition, VOC concentrations in Martorell are compared to VOC levels in 16 other cities of the world. Special attention throughout the paper is focused on the comparison between results obtained with data from an urban environment and data from a suburban area. Compared to the other cities, VOCs air quality in Martorell do not stand out for being neither among the worst nor among the best. The goal of setting relationships between airborne concentrations and pollutant sources is approached by a principal component analysis coupled to multiple linear regression. These procedures allow one to identify sources of VOCs pollution. A subsequent multiple linear regression allows us to estimate emission profiles for significant sources. The main source of VOCs pollution in Martorell is road traffic, contributing 62% of total pollution. Other identified sources of VOCs are the manufacture of aromas and essences (17%), a chemical industry of chlorinated compounds, and a wastewater facility (together, 6%). These latter three point sources are located by establishing relationships between wind directions and peak concentrations.