(Environmental Science & Technology) This study analyzed the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in natural gas that is used in residential locations in the Greater Boston metropolitan area. The study found that there were 21 volatile organic compounds classified as hazardous air pollutants.
Benzene was detected in 95% of the samples.
The study estimated that there could be 120-356 kg/yr of annual benzene emissions from gas in Greater Boston that are not accounted for in emissions inventories.
Michanowicz, D., Dayalu, A., Nordgaard, C., Buonocore, J., Fairchild, M., Ackley, R., Schiff, J., Liu, A., Phillips, N., Schulman, A., Magavi, Z., Spengler, J., (2022) Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User. Environmental Science & Technology 56 (14), 10258-10268 https://pubs.acs.org/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1021%2Facs.est.1c08298&href=/doi/10.1021%2Facs.est.1c08298