Interest in the occurence and behaviour of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is increasing due to their adverse effects on the environemnt and human health. The need to enforce more stringent regulations for levels of VOCs has resulted in the development of new techniques, chromatographic as well as spectroscopic. Defining sampling strategies and selecting measuring techniques has become a multidisciplinary task. Authorities responsible for regulations and enforcements, and environmental scientists have different approaches and pose different demands. New insights in environmental physics and chemistry, in adverse health effects and in the development of new measuring techniques indicate further research objectives. It is essential that information is made available on the various aspects of research on VOCs to enable better understanding of the various approaches. In particular the potential and limitations of the described analytial methods will be essential in defining environmental studies and interpreting the results.
This book addresses general and specific aspects of research on volatile compounds and is written for analytical and environmental chemists and policy makers in regulatory authorities and research institutions.