Oxidant control strategies. Part I. Urban oxidant control strategy derived from existing smog chamber data

Data from one smog chamber study of oxidant--precursor relationships are reanalyzed, and diagrams depicting the quantitative dependence of maximum 1-h oxidant concentration on the nonmethane hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides (NO/sub x/) reactants are derived. A method is described by which these diagrams can be used to design an optimum control strategy for urban oxidant reduction. Advantage of this smog chamber method over the presently used aerometric data analysis method is that it considers the role of NO/sub x/ quantitatively. Thus, hydrocarbon control requirements calculated by this method depend on ambient NO/sub x/ concentration and can be minimized by controlling NO/sub x/ to an optimum maximum level. Advantages and limitations of this smog chamber method are discussed, and suggestions for improvement are offered.