Assessment of Atmospheric Levels of Carbonyls in an Urban Environment of Argentina

It is well documented that carbonyl compounds have adverse effects on human health. On the other hand, these oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) are precursors of secondary pollutants such as tropospheric ozone or peroxy acetyl nitrate (PAN). In particular, formaldehyde as the simplest of the carbonyls, is the most abundant carbonyl in the air generated from the degradation of the majority of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This work presents for the first time a characterization and levels determination of carbonyl compounds by passive monitoring performed from April-December 2021 in the city of Córdoba-Argentina (2nd most populated Mediterranean city located in the center of the country). Annual concentrations were obtained in the range of 0.13-8.75μgm-3. A statistical analysis to determine significant differences and Pearson correlations with the meteorological parameters were performed. Spring and summer were found to be the seasons with the highest carbonyls concentration linked to the contribution of forest fires episodes on the concentrations determined, especially in springtime. C1/C2 and C2/C3 ratios were determined to assess the anthropogenic and biogenic sources. The prop-Equiv and ozone formation potentials were calculated, the concentrations registered and the results obtained for the ratios C1/C2 and C2/C3, in addition to the statistical correlations presented, represent a first approximation of the behavior of carbonyls in the city and of the influence of meteorological parameters on the behavior of carbonyls.