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Household chemicals now rival cars for US VOCs

A 2016 inventory finds volatile chemical products emit as much regulated VOC as all US mobile sources, with substantial IVOC/SOA potential.

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What sector now matches US mobile VOC emissions?

Volatile chemical products, after dropping regulatory-exempt organics.

What were 2016 US per-capita VCP organic emissions?

9.5 kg per person per year (6.4 kg C), or 3.05 Tg nationally.

Which product categories contribute most?

Paints and coatings, personal care products, and cleaning products.

What fraction of VCP organics are IVOCs?

About 20%, likely SOA precursors.

What is the national effective SOA yield?

5.3% by mass; ozone MIR is 1.58 g O3 g−1.

What dominates VCPy uncertainty?

Product usage and composition, not fate and transport.

How did VCPy perform for Los Angeles County?

NMB −13% with r = 0.95, better than the 2017 NEI VCP inventory.

What 95% CI bounds 2016 national emissions?

2.61–3.53 Tg (1.76–2.38 Tg C).

How does VCPy treat volatilization?

As a function of compound evaporation timescale and product-use timescale.

Historically, what were the two largest US VOC sectors in 1990?

Mobile sources (7.2 Tg) and VCPs (5.0 Tg).

What if 1% of non-evaporative organics later evaporate?

Sector emissions rise 0.18 kg per person per year and SOA yield can increase by >1.5%.