Urban air measurements using PTR-MS in Tokyo area and comparison with GC-FID measurements

Ambient air at a suburban area in Tokyo was measured by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and GC-FID simultaneously. Good correlations were obtained for hydrocarbon concentrations between GC-FID and PTR-MS, but concentrations differed by factor of 0.52-2.15, depending on the hydrocarbon. This shows that the calculated PTR-MS data needs to be corrected by standard gas measurements. Isoprene measured by PTR-MS is influenced by other species and the results of isoprene is not reliable at low concentration. Oxygenated volatile organic carbons showed higher concentrations during summer than in fall. This reflects the enhanced photochemical reactivity in summer. On the other hand, aromatic hydrocarbons, emitted mainly from car exhaust, did not show a difference between summer and fall. The ratios of aromatic hydrocarbons can be used as an indicator of photochemical reaction. Enhanced photochemical reactions were expected from these ratios during summer.