The study, accepted in the journal "Atmospheric Environment," indicated that many health hazards were being caused due to high levels of certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Several acute and chronic diseases such as sperm abnormalities, lower fetal growth, enhanced cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, and asthma might be triggered. BTEX (benzene and ethylbenzene) were also found to be carcinogenic.

The main sources of VOCs in Delhi were automobile emissions and solid fuel burning. In 2019, VOCs were measured on 146 days throughout all four seasons. Traffic-related emissions accounted for about 31% of the VOCs detected throughout the study, solid fuel combustion variables such as phenols, furans, and nitrogen-containing compounds accounted for about 28%, and secondary VOCs accounted for about 31%.

The highest average concentration of 199.6 parts per billion volume (ppbv) was observed in the Post-monsoon(October-November) period, followed by monsoon (July-September) with 151.2ppbv, winter (December-February) with 131.3ppbv and 78.7ppbv in summer (March-June). Except for benzene (5 g/m3) and benzo(a)pyrene (1 ng/m3), there is no set standard for VOCs. The importance of weather and season-specific activities is described by the seasonal change of VOC sources.

Experts stated that VOCs are detrimental to health and also condense into particulate matter, contributing to the development of organic aerosols. Due to the extreme heat in the summers, VOCs were also emitted through flora and trees.

Hence, strict mitigation and control action plan was needed to reduce primary non-methane VOC sources like vehicular emissions and solid fuel combustion, which would reduce the formation of secondary organic aerosols and ozone (O3) and help control particulate pollution in the city.