Fingerprint of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Quintero-Puchuncaví area. Results from Screening Campaign.

This report presents the results from a screening study of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the Quintero-Puchuncaví
region (Chile). Two different methods were selected, one quantitative (canisters samplers / analysis by Medusa/GC-MS) and a second semi-quantitative (Tenax TA/analysis by GC-MS). NILU evaluated the results of 4 compounds (methyl chloroform,
nitrobenzene, iso-butane and toluene), which were previously reported at very high concentrations and intensively
discussed in the media. NILU’s measurement results show much lower concentrations and it was concluded that the former
measurements were done with a significant error in the calibration. The average concentration of ambient benzene was 1.0 µg/m3 at industrial areas and 0.3 µg/m3 at the residential/background areas, both lower than international limit values. The main compounds emitted from the industrial areas are light hydrocarbons, which were detected at low concentration levels.