Abstract
In this study, it was tried to determine the BTEX-VOC concentrations in the air in Giresun Province during the 2018 Fall and 2019 Winter seasons using the passive sampling method. Due to the widespread use of both natural gas and coal in some regions in Giresun, it is aimed to demonstrate the difference between natural gas and coal. Sampling tubes were placed in 8 stations, 3 of which are in the coastal area and 3 in the inner part, that is, a total of 48 samples were analyzed. Different types of activated carbons (wood, coal, coconut based) were filled in the tubes and kept in the open air for 30 days. After the activated carbons in the sampling tubes collected were extracted, they were analyzed with GC-MS device in GRÜM lab. When stations are ignored, average ppb for wood-based activated charcoal results were; benzene: 39.8; toluene: 29.3; ethylbenzene: 336; m-p xylene: 786; o-xylene: 416 in autumn; benzene: 4.02; toluene, ethylbenzene and m-p xylene could not be detected, oxylene: 9.70 in winter. For coal-based activated carbon results were; benzene: 46.7; toluene: 27.8; ethyl benzene: 41.3; m-p xylene: 83.6; o-xylene: 33.4 in autumn; benzene: 24.5; toluene, ethyl benzene, m-p xylene could not be detected, o-xylene: 61.1 in winter. For the coconut-based activated carbon results were; benzene: 43.4; toluene: 14.8; ethylbenzene: 52.5; m-p xylene: 134; o-xylene: 41.0 in autumn; benzene: 17.2; toluene, ethylbenzene, m-p xylene could not be detected, o-xylene: 105 in winter. One Way ANOVA- Tukey test is performed to show differences between stations. Both activated charcoal and seasonal differences were not observed.