Volatile organic compounds and their role in secondary aerosol chemistry in a cold and dark urban environment

Abstract. Wintertime PM2.5 pollution is a longstanding issue in the urban subarctic environment such as Fairbanks, Alaska. While previous studies suggest that aldehydes may serve as precursors of S(IV) species in aerosols, the role of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in secondary aerosol chemistry remains poorly understood. Here, we use measurements from an online proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS), combined with complementary gas and aerosol measurements from the the Alaskan Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) field campaign in 2022, to examine VOC sources and their roles in aerosol chemistry in downtown Fairbanks. We find that alcohols, aromatics and carbonyls together account for ~70% of measured VOCs, with methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene as dominant species. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis indicate that approximately 56% of VOCs are associated with vehicle emissions, while wood heating and heating oil together contribute about 14%. Formaldehyde is primarily linked to diesel emissions, as well as primary and secondary sources associated with aged air masses. By comparing PMF factors with measured PM2.5 S(IV) species, we find that vehicle-related emissions of ammonia and formaldehyde likely play a key role in the formation of hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) in Fairbanks.

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Publication Details

Journal
Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Published
2026-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-15161-2026
Primary Topic
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Volatile organic compounds and their role in secondary aerosol chemistry in a cold and dark urban environment

Jingqiu Mao, Benjamin Chazeau, Rodney J. Weber, Jason M. St. Clair et al.
3 links
Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
article

Volatile organic compounds and their role in secondary aerosol chemistry in a cold and dark urban environment

Jingqiu Mao, Benjamin Chazeau, Rodney J. Weber, Jason M. St. Clair, Kayane K. Dingilian, Barbara D’Anna, James R. Campbell, Meeta Cesler‐Maloney, Weihang Zhang, Kathy S Law, Battaglia, Michael, Jr., Brice Temime-Roussel
article en

Abstract

Abstract. Wintertime PM2.5 pollution is a longstanding issue in the urban subarctic environment such as Fairbanks, Alaska. While previous studies suggest that aldehydes may serve as precursors of S(IV) species in aerosols, the role of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in secondary aerosol chemistry remains poorly understood. Here, we use measurements from an online proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS), combined with complementary gas and aerosol measurements from the the Alaskan Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) field campaign in 2022, to examine VOC sources and their roles in aerosol chemistry in downtown Fairbanks. We find that alcohols, aromatics and carbonyls together account for ~70% of measured VOCs, with methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene as dominant species. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis indicate that approximately 56% of VOCs are associated with vehicle emissions, while wood heating and heating oil together contribute about 14%. Formaldehyde is primarily linked to diesel emissions, as well as primary and secondary sources associated with aged air masses. By comparing PMF factors with measured PM2.5 S(IV) species, we find that vehicle-related emissions of ammonia and formaldehyde likely play a key role in the formation of hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS) in Fairbanks.

Atmospheric chemistry and physicsVol. 26(20)
California Institute of Technology (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), Georgia Institute of Technology (US), University of Alaska Fairbanks (US), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR), Aix-Marseille Université (FR), United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (US), Sorbonne Université (FR), Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace (FR), Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales (FR), U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (US), University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor, Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
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Openalex Percentile: Top 71%
Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
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