Research and analysis

Development of a reactivity index for the control of the emissions of organic compounds

The development of a risk-based approach to the regulation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) according to the propensity to produce ozone.

• From: Environment Agency
• Published: 1 January 2003

Documents

Development of a Reactivity Index for the Control of the Emissions of Organic Compounds

Ref: ISBN 1844321088, LIT 1649

PDF, 256 KB, 53 pages

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Details

This study investigates whether current understanding of photochemical ozone formation is advanced and detailed enough to design control strategies for organic compound emissions, which differentiate between the different species. A relationship is constructed between the emissions of close on 100 individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and downwind ozone produced by them. Such a relationship should exist from a theoretical standpoint. We investigate here whether it is robust enough to be of practical use in the design of pollution control strategies for organic compounds in the UK. For the relationship to be useful it must be consistent under a range of realistic atmospheric conditions and this study reports on ozone produced for a carefully chosen, but limited number of situations.

Published 1 January 2003