Interest in the occurrence and behaviour of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is increasing due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. It is essential that information is made available on the various aspects of research on VOCs to enable better understanding and control of the various environmental and human health threats. The information in this book will be used to improve communication and understanding of the various approaches. In particular the potential and limitations of the described analytical methods will be essential in defining environmental studies and interpreting the results.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Volatile Organic Compounds in Environment" that was published in Environments

Every day, large quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere from both anthropogenic and natural sources. The formation of gaseous and particulate secondary products caused by oxidation of VOCs is one of the largest unknowns in the quantitative prediction of the earth’s climate on a regional and global scale, and on the understanding of local air quality. To be able to model and control their impact, it is essential to understand the sources of VOCs, their distribution in the atmosphere and the chemical transformations which remove these compounds from the atmosphere. In recent years techniques for the analysis of organic compounds in the atmosphere have been developed to increase the spectrum of detectable compounds and their detection limits. New methods have been introduced to increase the time resolution of those measurements and to resolve more complex mixtures of organic compounds. Volatile Organic Compounds in the Atmosphere describes the current state of knowledge of the chemistry of VOCs as well as the methods and techniques to analyse gaseous and particulate organic compounds in the atmosphere. The aim is to provide an authoritative review to address the needs of both graduate students and active researchers in the field of atmospheric chemistry research.

In the early 1980s, two water-supply systems on the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina were found to be contaminated with the industrial solvents trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). The water systems were supplied by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point watertreatment plants, which served enlisted-family housing, barracks for unmarried service personnel, base administrative offices, schools, and recreational areas. The Hadnot Point water system also served the base hospital and an industrial area and supplied water to housing on the Holcomb Boulevard water system (full-time until 1972 and periodically thereafter). This book examines what is known about the contamination of the water supplies at Camp Lejeune and whether the contamination can be linked to any adverse health outcomes in former residents and workers at the base.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have anthropogenic and biogenic origins. At the Earth's scale, the natural sources represent a great part of the total VOCs present in the atmosphere but in industrialised regions, anthropogenic ones become the majority due to the various human activities related mainly to chemical industries (liquid fuels, solvents, thinners, detergents, degreasers, cleaners and lubricants). Almost all VOCs have effects on human health and many of them are even carcinogenic. It is also known that the VOCs can affect the central nervous system and may have mutagenic effects. Apart from human health, they also play an important role towards the environment, especially in the atmospheric pollution processes. Indeed, VOCs emissions lead to the promotion of photochemical reactions in the atmosphere (ozone formation, depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and formation of photochemical smog). The present book gathers and presents some current research from across the world conducted by scientific experts in their fields. In seven valuable contributions, it deals with the emission and the environmental impact as well as the control of the Volatile Organic Compounds.

Defines in non-technical language the more commonly used environmental terms appearing in EPA pub's., news releases, & other Agency documents. The definitions do not constitute the Agency's official use of terms for regulatory purposes; official terminology may be found in the laws & related regulations as published in such sources as the Congressional Record, Federal Register, & elsewhere. These terms are derived from previously published lists, internal glossaries produced by various programs & specific suggestions made by personnel in many Agency offices. The chemicals & pesticides selected for inclusion are limited to those most frequently referred to in Agency pub's. or that are the subject of major regulatory or program activities.