Air pollutants

Hydrocarbons

What are hydrocarbons?

Hydrocarbons are a class of reactive organic gases formed solely from hydrogen and carbon through the incomplete burning of any organic matter such as oil, wood or rubber. Some examples of hydrocarbons are oil, petrol and solvents.

What are the sources and contributors of hydrocarbons?

Combustion engine exhaust, oil refineries and oil-fuelled power plants are the primary source of hydrocarbons. Evaporation from petroleum fuels (e.g. at service stations), solvents, dry cleaning solutions and paint are other sources of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons can also arise from unburnt hydrocarbons in exhausts.

What are the effects of hydrocarbons?

The health effects from hydrocarbons are similar to those from exposure to ozone as hydrocarbons assist in the formation of ozone. High levels of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere can reduce the amount of available oxygen. Carcinogenic (cancer causing) forms of hydrocarbons are considered hazardous air pollutants, or air toxins and can lead to the development of cancer.

Standards/guidelines for hydrocarbons

The Ambient Air Quality Guidelines for hydrocarbons are as follows:

General trends

Monitoring of hydrocarbons commenced at the Khyber Pass Road monitoring site in late 2005. Trends for these will be available soon.