MONITORING AMBIENT VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND CONCENTRATIONS AT SELECTED SITES WITHIN THE TARKWA MUNICIPALITY
Date
2021-08-21
Authors
Alhassan, Nawaf
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Mines and Technology
Abstract
In the Tarkwa municipality, the concentration of aromatic compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, as well as the total volatile organic compounds in the ambient air, were measured. The purpose of the study was to monitor the release of VOCs in urban areas. To achieve this, ambient concentrations were measured at four urban sites designated as industrial, residential, and commercial areas. Sampling was conducted in the morning and afternoon of July 1, 2021, at the Light-duty vehicle workshop, Goil fuel station, Tarkwa station, and Total fuel station. The MiniRAE Lite VOC monitor, mounted on a two-meter platform, and the Draeger Accuro tube pump, manually operated, were used to measure ambient concentrations. The results confirmed VOC emissions at all sampling sites. The ACGIH TWA permissible exposure limit for benzene was significantly exceeded at the Goil and Total fuel stations. Toluene also exceeded the permissible exposure limit, with a concentration of 21.89 ppm at the Goil fuel station. However, the recorded concentrations of ethylbenzene and xylene were below the allowable exposure limit.