Contribution of liquefied petroleum gas to air pollution in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City

An estimation of hydrocarbon emissions caused by the consumption of liquefi ed petroleum gas (LPG) in the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City (MAMC) is pr esented. On the basis of experimental measurements at all points of handlin g, during the distribution process, and during the consumption of LPG in in dustrial devices and domestic appliances, an estimated 76,414 tons/year are released to the air. The most important contribution is found during the d omestic consumption of LPG (70%); this makes the control initiatives availa ble to the consumer. By developing a control program of LPG losses, a 77% r eduction in emission is expected in a 5-yr period. The calculated amounts of LPG emissions when correlated with the consumptio n of LPG, combined with information from air samples from the MAMC, do not point to LPG emissions as the most important factor contributing to troposp heric ozone in the air in Mexico City.