Investigation of Plant-Level Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Chemical Industry Highlights the Importance of Differentiated Control in China

The chemical industry is a significant
source of nonmethane
volatile
organic compounds (NMVOCs), pivotal precursors to ambient ozone (O3), and secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Despite their importance,
precise estimation of these emissions remains challenging, impeding
the implementation of NMVOC controls. Here, we present the first comprehensive
plant-level assessment of NMVOC emissions from the chemical industry
in China, encompassing 3461 plants, 127 products, and 50 NMVOC compounds
from 2010 to 2019. Our findings revealed that the chemical industry
in China emitted a total of 3105 (interquartile range: 1179–8113)
Gg of NMVOCs in 2019, with a few specific products accounting for
the majority of the emissions. Generally, plants engaged in chemical
fibers production or situated in eastern China pose a greater risk
to public health due to their higher formation potentials of O3 and SOA or their proximity to residential areas or both.
We demonstrated that targeting these high-risk plants for emission
reduction could enhance health benefits by 7–37% per unit of
emission reduction on average compared to the current situation. Consequently,
this study provides essential insights for developing effective plant-specific
NMVOC control strategies within China’s chemical industry.