What are non-methane organic gases?
Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) are a set of organic compounds that are typically photochemically reactive in the atmosphere—marked by the exclusion of methane. Essentially, NMVOCs are identical to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but with methane excluded.
What are non-methane hydrocarbons?
Nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC, such as ethane, ethene, propane, propene, and isoprene) are trace atmospheric constituents that play important roles both in providing a sink for hydroxyl radicals and in controlling ozone concentrations (Donahue and Prinn, 1990).
Is methane gas a volatile organic compound?
Sources. VOCs comprise volatile hydrocarbons and other organic molecules released into the atmosphere. Not included in the above are emissions of methane, which although a volatile hydrocarbon, is present in the atmosphere from natural sources at much larger concentrations than other VOCs.
Is methane a volatile gas?
Overview. Hydrocarbon gas is composed of methane (CH4), a colourless, odourless and flammable gas and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Methane is also a greenhouse gas (GHG) and it has a global warming potential that is more than 70 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2), over a 20-year period.
What is VOC air quality?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.
What is VOC emission?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products.
Is methane a regulated pollutant?
Methane enters the atmosphere from oil and gas operations in various ways, including equipment leaks. That’s why in 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency finalized rules that regulate methane emissions and associated toxic air pollution from the oil and gas industry.
Is VOC harmful?
VOCs Can Harm Health Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, can cause difficulty breathing and nausea, and can damage the central nervous system as well as other organs. Some VOCs can cause cancer.
How does VOC affect human health?
VOCs include a variety of chemicals that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and skin problems. Higher concentrations may cause irritation of the lungs, as well as damage to the liver, kidney, or central nervous system.
How are non methane volatile organic compounds similar to VOCs?
Non-methane volatile organic compound. Essentially, NMVOCs are identical to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but with methane excluded. An important subset of NMVOCs are the non-methane hydrocarbons ( NMHCs ). Methane is excluded in air-pollution contexts because it is not harmful. Its low reactivity and thus long lifetime in the atmosphere,…
What does the term nonmethane organic gas mean?
The term nonmethane organic gas (NMOG) means “the sum of non oxygenated and oxygenated hydrocarbons contained in a gas sample, including, at a minimum, all oxygenated organic gases containing 5 or fewer carbon atoms (i.e., aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, ethers, etc.), and all known alkanes,…
What are some examples of non methane hydrocarbons?
Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs such as ethane, ethene, propane, propene, and isoprene) are trace atmospheric constituents that play an important role in both providing a sink for hydroxyl radicals and in controlling ozone concentrations (Donahue and Prinn, 1990).
Why is it important to exclude methane from NMVOCs?
The study of NMVOCs is important in atmospheric chemistry, where it can be used as a proxy to study the collective properties of reactive atmospheric VOCs. The exclusion of methane is necessary due to its relatively high ambient concentration in comparison to other atmospheric species and its relative inertness.