A study of the concentrations of selected organic vapors in the ambient atmosphere of suburban and rural New Jersey locations

Data were collected on a selected group of volatile organic compounds including aromatic, chlorinated aromatic, and halogenated one‐ and two‐carbon compounds at three sites in the state of New Jersey. Sampling took place at South Amboy, Rutherford and Batsto Village during 1979 and continued in 1980 at the latter two sites. Studies were also carried out on the correlation of the concentration data obtained with wind direction during sampling.

The most frequently detected pollutants include the aromatic compounds, benzene, toluene, xylenes and chlorobenzene, as well as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. Concentration levels found were usually in the low part‐per‐billion range for Rutherford and South Amboy, with levels in Batsto averaging at least a factor of three lower. Correlation of wind direction with average concentration shows no significant trends for Rutherford or Batsto, but does indicate a general effect of industrial area pollution on South Amboy.