title: Carbonyl compounds in the urban environment of Athens, Greece.
abstract: The concentration levels of 15 selected carbonyl compounds in 62 samples were determined at two sites in Athens basin from June to December 2000. Formaldehyde was the most abundant species (0.05-39 microg m(-3)), which comprised from 22% to 37% of the total measured compounds, followed by acetaldehyde (4.32-49 microg m(-3)), acetone/acrolein (0.64-198 microg m(-3)) and butanal (0.79-140 microg m(-3)). The mean formaldehyde/acetaldehyde and acetaldehyde/propanal molar ratios were calculated. No significant seasonal differences were observed for all the carbonyls. Photochemical production was found to weigh upon atmospheric levels for 83-93% in summer days, dropping below 33% in the winter. The importance of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde as a source of hydroxyl radicals in Athens was also assessed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Environmental Analysis Group, Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15771 Zografos, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bakeas
authors.forename: Dimitrios I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Argyris
authors.forename: Panayotis A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Siskos
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006115:Greece; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D010777:Photochemistry; D012621:Seasons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000447:Aldehydes; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000096:Acetone; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical