Dynamic flux chamber measurement of gaseous mercury emission fluxes over soils. Part 1: simulation of gaseous mercury emissions from soils using a two-resistance exchange interface model

A two-resistance exchange interface model (TREIM) was developed to simulate gaseous mercury (Hg) emissions from soils measured by dynamic flux chamber (DFC) operations. The model is based on mass balance principles and a Hg air/soil exchange theory that considers the influence of flushing flow rate on Hg air/soil exchange. We used this model to examine the effect of the flushing flow rate and understand the optimum conditions for DFC measurements of Hg emission fluxes over soils. Our model simulations indicate that the flushing flow rate is a most critical operation condition. We recommend adoption of high flushing flow rates (e.g., ∼15–40 l min⁻¹ for DFCs of common design) based on our simulation findings that underestimation of actual emission fluxes can occur at low flushing flow rates. The biased low fluxes are caused by suppression of emission potential resulting from internal accumulation of emitted Hg and by higher exchange resistance both at low flushing flow rates. This model provides a useful means for estimating maximum steady-state fluxes and soil air Hg concentrations and for adjustment of the fluxes measured under different operating conditions. The model also finds its value in understanding mechanical processes of Hg emissions from soils.     

Dynamics of mercury fluxes and their controlling factors in large Hg-polluted floodplain areas

Environmental pollution by mercury (Hg) is a considerable environmental problem world-wide. Due to the occurrence of Hg volatilization from their soils, floodplains can function as an important source of volatile Hg. Soil temperature and soil water content related to flood dynamics are considered as important factors affecting seasonal dynamics of total gaseous mercury (TGM) fluxes. We quantified seasonal variations of TGM fluxes and conducted a laboratory microcosm experiment to assess the effect of temperature and moisture on TGM fluxes in heavily polluted floodplain soils. Observed TGM emissions ranged from 10 to 850 ng m⁻² h⁻¹ and extremely exceeded the emissions of non-polluted sites. TGM emissions increased exponentially with raised air and soil temperatures in both field (R²: 0.49-0.70) and laboratory (R²: 0.99) experiments. Wet soil material showed higher TGM fluxes, whereas the role of soil water content was affected by sampling time during the microcosm experiments.     

Dynamic flux chamber measurement of gaseous mercury emission fluxes over soils: Part 2—effect of flushing flow rate and verification of a two-resistance exchange interface simulation model

Both field and laboratory tests demonstrated that soil Hg emission fluxes measured by dynamic flux chamber (DFC) operations strongly depend on the flushing air flow rates used. The general trend is an increase in the fluxes with increasing flushing flow rates followed by an asymptotic approach to flux maximum at sufficiently high (optimum) flushing flow rates. This study indicates that the DFC measurements performed at low flushing flow rates can underestimate Hg emission fluxes over soils, especially Hg-enriched soils. High flushing flow rates therefore are recommended for accurate estimation of soil Hg emission fluxes by DFC operations. The dependence of DFC-measured soil Hg emission fluxes on flushing flow rate is a physical phenomenon inherent in DFC operations, regardless of DFC design and soil physical characteristics. Laboratory tests using DFCs over different soils confirmed the predictions of a two-resistance exchange interface model and demonstrated the capability of this model in quantitatively simulating Hg emissions from soils measured by DFC operations.     

Response of diazotrophic cyanobacterium Nostoc carneum under pesticide and UV-B stress

A study was under taken, under controlled laboratory conditions, to investigate the influence of non-ionizing radiation (UV-B) and an organochlorine pesticide on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, protein content and DCPIP photoreduction of a cyanobacterium Nostoc carneum. Test algae was isolated from rice field soils of Sambalpur, Western Orissa, India and grown in nitrogen free BG 11 culture medium. Culture of algae from log phase of growth was treated with 5 ppm of the insecticide, Endodhan and UV-B (20 mW m⁻²) for 2 h daily, separately and in combination of insecticide and UV-B radiation. Algal samples treated with UV-B and pesticide separately showed distinct inhibitory effects on growth, pigments, protein content and DCPIP reduction of the test samples. However, when pesticide treated samples were subjected to UV-B exposure, the effect showed additive as well as synergetic effect. Experiment conducted to check the ability of the organism to recover from the stress, exposed for various time periods, suggest their ability to partially recover from the stress.     

Emissions from soil fumigation in two raised bed production systems tarped with low permeability films

Raised beds are used to produce some high-value annual fruit and vegetable crops such as strawberry in California (CA) and tomato in Florida (FL), USA. Pre-plant soil fumigation is an important tool to control soil-borne pests in the raised beds. However, fumigant emissions have detrimental environmental consequences. Field trials were conducted to evaluate emissions of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) in two different production systems with raised beds covered by different tarps. In the CA trial, InLine (60.8% 1,3-D and 33.3% CP) was drip-applied at 340 kg ha⁻¹ to 5 cm deep in the beds (30 cm high and 107 cm wide) tarped with polyethylene (PE) or virtually impermeable film (VIF). In the FL trial, carbonated Telone C35 (63.4% 1,3-D and 34.7% CP) was shank-applied at 151 kg ha⁻¹ to 20 cm deep in the beds (22 cm high and 76 cm wide) tarped with totally impermeable film (TIF). Emissions from tarped beds relative to furrows were contrary between the two trials. For the CA trial, the emission was 47% of applied 1,3-D and 27% of applied CP from PE tarped beds and 31% of applied 1,3-D and 15% of applied CP from VIF tarped beds, while that from uncovered furrows was <0.4% for both chemicals in both fields. In the FL trial, only 0.1% 1,3-D was emitted from the TIF tarped beds, but 27% was measured from the uncovered furrows. Factors contributing to the differences in emissions were chiefly raised-bed configuration, tarp permeability, fumigant application method, soil properties, soil water content, and fumigant carbonation. The results indicate that strategies for emission reduction must consider the differences in agronomic production systems. Modifying raised bed configuration and fumigant application technique in coarse textured soils with TIF tarping can maximize fumigation efficiency and emission reduction.     

Critical Limits for Hg(II) in soils, derived from chronic toxicity data

Published chronic toxicity data for Hg(II) added to soils were assembled and evaluated to produce a data set comprising 52 chronic end-points, five each for plants and invertebrates and 42 for microbes. With end-points expressed in terms of added soil Hg(II) contents, Critical Limits were derived from the 5th percentiles of species sensitivity distributions, values of 0.13 μg (g soil)⁻¹ and 3.3 μg (g soil organic matter)⁻¹ being obtained. The latter value exceeds the currently recommended Critical Limit, used to determine Hg(II) Critical Loads in Europe, of 0.5 μg (g soil organic matter)⁻¹. We also applied the WHAM/Model VI chemical speciation model to estimate concentrations of Hg²⁺ in soil solution, and derived an approximate Critical Limit Function (CLF) that includes pH; log [Hg²⁺]_crit = −2.15 pH −17.10. Because they take soil properties into account, the soil organic matter-based limit and the CLF provide the best assessment of toxic threat for different soils. For differing representative soils, each predicts a range of up to 100-fold in the dry weight-based content of mercury that corresponds to the Critical Limit.     

Mercury contamination in vicinity of secondary copper smelters in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, China: Levels and contamination in topsoils

In the present study, we aim to investigate the extent of soil contamination by Hg, particularly by anthropogenic Hg, and tentatively estimate the total Hg (Hg_T) accumulation in topsoils (0-15 cm) in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province—a secondary Cu smelter of China. The results show that the levels of soil Hg in the vicinity of the smelters have been substantially elevated following local smelting activities. The spatial distribution of soil Hg in this area reveals a rapid decrease as the distance from the smelter reaches 1.5 km, which is probably due to the quick deposition process of particulate Hg and reactive gaseous Hg emitted from the smelters. The total accumulation of Hg_T in the topsoils of the study area of 10.9 km² is approximately 365-561 kg and of which 346-543 kg might be contributed by anthropogenic emission alone with an annual emission of 17.3-27.2 kg Hg to the topsoils.     

Transport of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in soil

The effect of soil properties on the transport of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was studied in a set of laboratory column experiments, using different combinations of size fractions of a Mediterranean sandy clay soil. The AgNPs with average size of ∼30 nm yielded a stable suspension in water with zeta potential of −39 mV. Early breakthrough of AgNPs in soil was observed in column transport experiments. AgNPs were found to have high mobility in soil with outlet relative concentrations ranging from 30% to 70%, depending on experimental conditions. AgNP mobility through the column decreased when the fraction of smaller soil aggregates was larger. The early breakthrough pattern was not observed for AgNPs in pure quartz columns nor for bromide tracer in soil columns, suggesting that early breakthrough is related to the nature of AgNP transport in natural soils. Micro-CT and image analysis used to investigate structural features of the soil, suggest that soil aggregate size strongly affects AgNP transport in natural soil. The retention of AgNPs in the soil column was reduced when humic acid was added to the leaching solution, while a lower flow rate (Darcy velocity of 0.17 cm/min versus 0.66 cm/min) resulted in higher retention of AgNPs in the soil. When soil residual chloride was exchanged by nitrate prior to column experiments, significantly improved mobility of AgNPs was observed in the soil column. These findings point to the importance of AgNP-soil chemical interactions as a retention mechanism, and demonstrate the need to employ natural soils rather than glass beads or quartz in representative experimental investigations.     

Migration and leaching risk of extraneous antimony in three representative soils of China: Lysimeter and batch experiments

Antimony (Sb) distribution, solubility and mobility onto natural soils of China were studied in lysimeter and batch experiments as a function of physicochemical properties of the soil. An outdoor lysimeter experiment investigated the leaching and migration of Sb in the soils with Sb-polluted topsoil and unpolluted subsoil over a 5 month period. Soil solutions were collected by suction cups installed at different depth of lysimeters, and leachates were regularly collected and analyzed for Sb concentrations. The majority of the added Sb was retained in the topsoil layers, but small portions were moved to the sub-layers. Sb concentrations in the soil solutions and leachates ranged from 0–755.5 (6.38 ± 54 on average) μg l⁻¹ and 0–0.45 (smaller than the detection limit) μg l⁻¹ respectively, indicating the low solubility of Sb in the soils. Batch experiments were performed in order to determine the sorption capacity and the partition coefficient (K_d). Freundlich isotherm described properly the equilibrium experimental data and results show that the K_d values for Primosol, Isohumosol, Ferrosol equal to 22.5, 87.8, 704 L kg⁻¹, respectively. These results showed the strong capacity of the soils to retain Sb, and prevent it being leached down the profile. The mobilizable Sb was in the order: Primosol > Isohumosol > Ferrosol. Sb migration in the soils was mainly associated with the exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and metal–organic complex-bound fractions. Health risk assessment indicates that Sb leaching from Ferrosol will not harm to human health through groundwater under the test conditions, while it has certain health risks from the Isohumosol and Primosol.     

Atmospheric emission of polychlorinated naphthalenes from iron ore sintering processes

Iron ore sintering processes constitute significant sources of dioxins, and studies have confirmed a close correlation between polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and dioxin formation. Thus, iron ore sintering processes are thought to be a potential source of PCNs, although intensive investigations on PCN emissions from sintering processes have not been carried out. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to qualify and quantify PCN emissions from nine sintering plants operating on different industrial scales. PCN concentrations ranged from 3 to 983 ng m⁻³ (0.4-23.3 pg TEQ_PCN m⁻³) and emission factors ranged from 14 to 1749 μg t⁻¹ (0.5-41.5 ng TEQ_PCN t⁻¹), with a geometric mean of 84 μg t⁻¹ (2.1 ng TEQ_PCN t⁻¹). The estimated annual emission of PCNs from sintering processes in China was 1390 mg TEQ_PCN. These figures will assist in the development of a PCN emissions inventory. Regarding emission characteristics, PCNs mainly comprised low-chlorinated homologs. The ratios of several characteristic PCN congeners were also measured and compared with those from other sources. Taken together, these results may provide useful information for identifying the sources of PCNs produced by iron ore sintering processes.     

Sorption, desorption, and degradation of (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid in representative soils of the Danubian Lowland, Slovakia

Herbicide leaching through soil into groundwater greatly depends upon sorption-desorption and degradation phenomena. Batch adsorption, desorption and degradation experiments were performed with acidic herbicide MCPA and three soil types collected from their respective soil horizons. MCPA was found to be weakly sorbed by the soils with Freundlich coefficient values ranging from 0.37 to 1.03 mg^1−1/n kg⁻¹ L^1/n. It was shown that MCPA sorption positively correlated with soil organic carbon content, humic and fulvic acid carbon contents, and negatively with soil pH. The importance of soil organic matter in MCPA sorption by soils was also confirmed by performing sorption experiments after soil organic matter removal. MCPA sorption in these treated soils decreased by 37-100% compared to the original soils. A relatively large part of the sorbed MCPA was released from soils into aqueous solution after four successive desorption steps, although some hysteresis occurred during desorption of MCPA from all soils. Both sorption and desorption were depth-dependent, the A soil horizons exhibited higher retention capacity of the herbicide than B or C soil horizons. Generally, MCPA sorption decreased in the presence of phosphate and low molecular weight organic acids. Degradation of MCPA was faster in the A soil horizons than the corresponding B or C soil horizons with half-life values ranging from 4.9 to 9.6 d in topsoils and from 11.6 to 23.4 d in subsoils.     

Occurrence, sources, and inventory of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in soils from Chongming Island, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) is a concern due to their large usage combining with physico-chemical properties and toxicity to wildlife and human. However, very limited data were reported on HBCDs in soils, especially from rural area. In this study, 22 soil samples were collected from Chongming Island at estuary of the Yangtze River Delta, to investigate the level, diasteroisomer profile, potential sources, and mass inventory of HBCDs. The total concentrations ranged from not detected to 93.8 pg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) with a mean of 23.3 pg g⁻¹ dw, which was at the low end of the global levels. The wide distribution of HBCDs in soils suggested that the local emissions of HBCD-containing materials and/or the inputs via atmospheric transport from other regions were two possible sources. Variation of HBCDs levels was observed in different types of soils. Woodland, tideland and road soils contained slightly higher HBCDs than those of farmland and grassland. Overall, γ-HBCD was the dominant diasteroisomer in soils, followed by α-HBCD and β-HBCD. Significant but weak correlations were only found between α-HBCD and β-HBCD versus TOC content in soils. Currently, the mass inventory of HBCDs in soils of Chongming Island was 5.3 kg. Based on these data, we gave perspective on human intake of HBCDs via soil ingestion by age. Local resident’s intakes ranged from 15.5 to 97.8 fg kg body weight⁻¹ d⁻¹, in which children are exposed more than adults.     

Biotic and abiotic degradation of illicit drugs, their precursor, and by-products in soil

This study presents the first systematic information on the degradation patterns of clandestine drug laboratory chemicals in soil. The persistence of five compounds - parent drugs (methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)), precursor (pseudoephedrine), and synthetic by-products N-formylmethylamphetamine and 1-benzyl-3-methylnaphthalene) - were investigated in laboratory scale for 1 year in three different South Australian soils both under non-sterile and sterile conditions. The results of the degradation study indicated that 1-benzyl-3-methylnaphthalene and methamphetamine persist for a long time in soil compared to MDMA and pseudoephedrine; N-formylmethylamphetamine exhibits intermediate persistence. The role of biotic versus abiotic soil processes on the degradation of target compounds was also varied significantly for different soils as well as with the progress in incubation period. The degradation of methamphetamine and 1-benzyl-3-methylnaphthalene can be considered as predominantly biotic as no measureable changes in concentrations were recorded in the sterile soils within a 1 year period. The results of the present work will help forensic and environmental scientists to precisely determine the environmental impact of chemicals associated with clandestine drug manufacturing laboratories.     

Concentrations of PCDD/PCDF in soil close to a secondary aluminum smelter

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) were analyzed in samples of the emissions from a secondary aluminum smelter (ALS) and soil samples around the plant. The purpose was to estimate the impact of the emissions on the surrounding environment.PCDD/F soil concentrations were higher in the proximity of the plant, exceeding the limit adopted in Italy in soils for green areas and residential uses and the upper limit of several reference concentrations. The most contaminated sites were less than 500 m from the plant and the dioxin concentration with the distance from the ALS.Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that emissions from the ALS were the source of PCDD/F contamination in the soils closest to the plant. Multivariate data analyses such as PCA are therefore useful to identify sources of emission causing contamination.     

Watershed-based riverine discharge loads and emission factor of perfluorinated surfactants in Korean peninsula

Long-range transport of and exposure to perfluorinated substances (PFSs) strongly depend on their emission mode. In the present study, watershed-based riverine discharge loads and emission factors are estimated for perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorohexylsulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctylsulfonate (PFOS) by using spatially distributed data of chemical concentrations together with water flows and a geographic information system (GIS). Average per capita emissions (emission factor, μg capita⁻¹ d⁻¹) are 75 for PFOA, 36 for PFNA, 17 for PFHxS, and 43 for PFOS, which are several times lower than the estimates for Japan and the European continent. A relatively uniform distribution is observed for PFHxS and PFOS emission factors, while elevated values of PFOA and PFNA predominate in one of eight river basins. This may indicate the leading contribution of diffusive sources (e.g. nonpoint source) for PFHxS and PFOS versus the presence of localized point sources for PFOA and PFNA. The lower-upper bound of total riverine loads discharged annually from the Korean peninsula are in the range of 0.53-1.3 tons for PFOA, 0.09-0.60 tons for PFNA, 0.07-0.29 tons for PFHxS, and 0.19-0.73 tons for PFOS, accounting for <1% of global annual emissions. Furthermore, these riverine discharge loads are significantly greater than the discharge loads from a wastewater treatment plant, indicating the necessity of further study of nonpoint sources.     

Fates and transport of PPCPs in soil receiving reclaimed water irrigation

Fates and transport of 9 commonly found PPCPs of the reclaimed water were simulated based on the HYDRUS-1D software that was validated with data generated from field experiments. Under the default scenario in which the model parameters and input data represented the typical conditions of turf grass irrigation in southern California, the adsorption, degradation, and volatilization of clofibric acid, ibuprofen, 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-n-nonylphenol, naproxen, triclosan, diclofenac sodium, bisphenol A and estrone in the receiving soils were tracked for 10 years. At the end, their accumulations in the 90 cm soil profile varied from less than 1 ng g⁻¹ to about 140 ng g⁻¹ and their concentrations in the drainage water in the 90 cm soil depth varied from nil to μg L⁻¹ levels. The adsorption and microbial degradation processes interacted to contain the PPCPs entirely within surface 40 cm of the soil profiles. Leaching and volatilization were not significant processes governing the PPCPs in the soils. The extent of accumulations in the soils did not appear to produce undue ecological risks to the soil biota. PPCPs did not represent any potential environmental harm in reclaimed water irrigation.     

Dynamic changes of rhizosphere properties and antioxidant enzyme responses of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in mercury-contaminated soils

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the dynamic changes in the rhizosphere properties and antioxidant enzyme responses of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in three levels of Hg-contaminated soils. The concentrations of soluble Hg and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the rhizosphere soil solutions of the wheat plants were characterised by the sequence before sowing > trefoil stage > stooling stage, whereas the soil solution pH was found to follow an opposite distribution pattern. The activities of antioxidant enzymes in wheat plants under Hg stress were substantially altered. Greater superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities were observed in the wheat plants grown in a highly polluted soil than in a slightly polluted soil (with increases of 11–27% at the trefoil stage and 26–70% at the stooling stage); however, increasing concentrations of Hg up to seriously polluted level led to reduced enzyme activities. The present results suggest that wheat plants could positively adapt to environmental Hg stress, with rhizosphere acidification, the enhancement of DOC production and greater antioxidant enzyme activities perhaps being three important mechanisms involved in the metal uptake/tolerance in the rhizospheres of wheat plants grown in Hg-contaminated soils.     

Influences of thermal decontamination on mercury removal, soil properties, and repartitioning of coexisting heavy metals

Thermal treatment is a useful tool to remove Hg from contaminated soils. However, thermal treatment may greatly alter the soil properties and cause the coexisting contaminants, especially trace metals, to transform and repartition. The metal repartitioning may increase the difficulty in the subsequent process of a treatment train approach. In this study, three Hg-contaminated soils were thermally treated to evaluate the effects of treating temperature and duration on Hg removal. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to project the suitable heating parameters for subsequent bench-scale fixed-bed operation. Results showed that thermal decontamination at temperature >400 °C successfully lowered the Hg content to <20 mg kg⁻¹. The organic carbon content decreased by 0.06-0.11% and the change in soil particle size was less significant, even when the soils were thermally treated to 550 °C. Soil clay minerals such as kaolinite were shown to be decomposed. Aggregates were observed on the surface of soil particles after the treatment. The heavy metals tended to transform into acid-extractable, organic-matter bound, and residual forms from the Fe/Mn oxide bound form. These results suggest that thermal treatment may markedly influence the effectiveness of subsequent decontamination methods, such as acid washing or solvent extraction.     

Nitrous oxide and methane emission from a flooded rice field as influenced by separate and combined application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl and pretilachlor

Combination of divergent active principles to achieve broad-spectrum control is gaining popularity to manage the weed menace in intensive agriculture. However, such application could have non-target impacts on the soil processes affecting soil ecology and environmental interactions. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of separate and combined applications of herbicides bensulfuron methyl and pretilachlor on the emission of N₂O and CH₄, and related soil and microbial parameters in a flooded alluvial field planted to rice cv Lalat. Single application of the herbicide bensulfuron methyl or pretilachlor resulted in a significant reduction of N₂O and CH₄ emissions while the combination of these two herbicides distinctly increased N₂O and CH₄ emissions. Cumulative N₂O emissions (kg N₂O-N) followed the order of bensulfuron methyl (0.35 kg ha⁻¹) < pretilachlor (0.36 kg ha⁻¹) < control (0.45 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% single dose (0.49 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% double dose (0.54 kg ha⁻¹). Cumulative CH₄ emissions (kg CH₄), on the other hand, followed the order of bensulfuron methyl (47.89 kg ha⁻¹) < pretilachlor (73.17 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% single dose (93.50 kg ha⁻¹) < control (106.54 kg ha⁻¹) < bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6.0% double dose (124.67 kg ha⁻¹). The inhibitory effect of separate application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% and pretilachlor 6.0% on N₂O emission was linked to lower mineral N, lower denitrifying and nitrifying activity and low denitrifier and nitrifier populations. Inhibitory effect on CH₄ emission, on the contrary, was linked to prevention in the drop of redox potential, lower readily mineralizable carbon (RMC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) contents as well as lower methanogenic and higher methanotrophic bacterial population. Admittedly, stimulatory effect of combined application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% and pretilachlor 6.0% at double dose on N₂O and CH₄ emission was related to reversal of the identified indicators of inhibition. Results indicate that while individual application of herbicides bensulfuron methyl 0.6% or pretilachlor 6.0% can reduce N₂O and CH₄ emission from flooded soil planted to rice, their combined application at normal dose can keep the emission at a comparatively lower level with significantly higher grain yield as compared to the herbicides applied alone.     

Volatile organic compound concentrations, emission rates, and source apportionment in newly-built apartments at pre-occupancy stage

The present study investigated the indoor concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde and their indoor emission characteristics in newly-built apartments at the pre-occupancy stage. In total, 107 apartments were surveyed for indoor and outdoor VOC concentrations in two metropolitan cities and one rural area in Korea. A mass balanced model was used to estimate surface area-specific emission rates of individual VOCs and formaldehyde. Seven (benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, m,p-xylene, o-xylene, n-hexane, and n-heptane) of 40 target compounds were detectable in all indoor air samples, whereas the first five were detected in all outdoor air samples. Formaldehyde was also predominant in the indoor air samples, with a high detection frequency of 96%. The indoor concentrations were significantly higher than the outdoor concentrations for aromatics, alcohols, terpenes, and ketones. However, six halogenated VOCs exhibited similar concentrations for indoor and outdoor air samples, suggesting that they are not major components emitted from building materials. It was also suggested that a certain portion of the apartments surveyed were constructed by not following the Korean Ministry of Environment guidelines for formaldehyde emissions. Toluene exhibited the highest emission rate with a median value of 138 μg m⁻² h⁻¹. The target compounds with median emission rates greater than 20 μg m⁻² h⁻¹ were toluene, 1-propanol, formaldehyde, and 2-butanone. The wood panels/vinyl floor coverings were the largest indoor pollutant source, followed by floorings, wall coverings, adhesives, and paints. The wood panels/vinyl floor coverings contributed nearly three times more to indoor VOC concentrations than paints.