Title: | "The characteristics of BTEX concentration in various types of environment in the Baltic Sea Region, Lithuania" |
Author(s): | Marciulaitiene E; Sereviciene V; Baltrenas P; Baltrenaite E; |
Address: | "Department of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10223, Vilnius, Lithuania. egle.marciulaitiene@vgtu.lt. Department of Environmental Protection, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10223, Vilnius, Lithuania" |
Journal Title: | Environ Sci Pollut Res Int |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11356-016-8204-x |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1614-7499 (Electronic) 0944-1344 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) form an important group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affecting troposphere and posing risk to human health. The article examines the Mazeikiai area in the northern part of Lithuania where one of the largest Central European companies and the only oil refinery in the Baltic region (200,000 barrels/day) are close to the Baltic Sea. The research carried out mainly focuses on the following objectives: quantitative assessment of the amounts of BTEX occurring in the impact zone of the oil refinery and transport; estimation of background BTEX concentrations in the region; establishing the main sources of BTEX in the region researched and evaluation of impact of meteorological parameters on BTEX concentrations in different seasons. The passive measurement method was used for analysing VOCs (benzene (C(6)H(6)), toluene (C(7)H(8)), ethylbenzene (C(8)H(10)) and ortho-, meta- para-xylene (C(8)H(10))). The research was carried out in 2010-2012. Its results showed that the average annual concentration of benzene was below the threshold value of 5 mug/m(3). Within the measurement period, the average concentration of benzene fluctuated from 1.2 to 2.4 mug/m(3), that of toluene varied from 1.3 to 3.5 mug/m(3), that of ethylbenzene varied from 0.3 to 0.7 mug/m(3) and that of xylene (calculated as para-, meta- and ortho-xylene) varied from 1.0 to 2.4 mug/m(3). Compared to the established BTEX concentration, the actual background BTEX concentration in the urban area is two times higher. The seasonal analysis suggests that the highest values of benzene concentration are observed in the winter season" |
Keywords: | Benzene/*analysis Benzene Derivatives/*analysis Cluster Analysis Lithuania Seasons Toluene/*analysis Xylenes/*analysis Btex Diffusive samplers Meteorological parameters Pca Species ratio; |
Notes: | "MedlineMarciulaitiene, E Sereviciene, V Baltrenas, P Baltrenaite, E eng Germany 2016/12/13 Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017 Feb; 24(4):4162-4173. doi: 10.1007/s11356-016-8204-x. Epub 2016 Dec 9" |