A versatile and uncomplicated method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in ambient urban air

A method was developed for sampling and selective quantitative determinatio n of typical volatile or ganic compounds (VOCs) in ambient urban air. A mob ile and self-contained dual-channel air sampling tool based on solid phase adsorption was constructed. A simple calibration procedure circumventing th e adsorption/desorption process was designed. The method was validated for seven "key-analytes": n-hexane, 3-methyl-2-pentene, benzene, tetrachloroeth ene, styrene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and acetophenone. The complete air sam pling equipment is easily accommodated in a business suitcase. The lower li mits of the practical working ranges are between 0.1 mu g m(-3) (tetrachlor oethene) and 1.2 mu g m(-3) (benzene). Air samples were collected at a loca tion in Salzburg with heavy motor vehicle traffic and measured in order to prove a satisfactory method performance under practical monitoring conditio ns.