AMBIENT AIR HYDROCARBON CONCENTRATIONS IN FLORIDA

In May of 1976 a three-day study was undertaken in St. Petersburg/Tampa, the Everglades, and Miami areas to assess the importance of naturally emitted hydrocarbons to ozone production. Some samples were collected within inches of citrus trees in an effort to observe the occurrence of natural terpene hydrocarbon emissions. Other samples were collected in remote areas to determine hydrocarbon composition and to investigate natural hydrocarbon contribution to the overall hydrocarbon burden. No significant natural hydrocarbon contribution was observed in any of the collected samples. The C10 terpene hydrocarbons were below our limit of detectability of 1 ppb carbon. The meterological conditions during this study were not conducive for the buildup of high hydrocarbon concentration, and low ozone levels were observed. The results suggest that natural hydrocarbon emissions are not as important as anthropogenic sources of hydrocarbon in the formation of ambient ozone. © 1978, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.