Determination of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere of the city of Thessaloniki, Greece

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are considered as important air pollutant s playing a fundamental role in photochemical smog formation. The aim of th is work is to study the atmospheric concentration levels of volatile hydroc arbons in the city of Thessaloniki at North Greece. The sampling was carrie d out during three weekly periods on 1995 and 1996. The hydrocarbons measur ed were the aliphatic and aromatic C6-C9 and naphthalene. The aromatic comp ounds were the most abundant followed by the aliphatics with corresponding maximum concentrations 79.2 ppb for toluene and 26 ppb for hexane.