Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are comprised by non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes) and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs, ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, esters). They are important precursors of tropospheric ozone (O₃) and secondary organic compounds (SAO).

VOCs are emitted into the atmosphere by usage of fossil fuel (e.g. from exhaust pipes or spillage) and from their use as solvents (e.g. paints, cleaning fluids). In the atmosphere VOCs have lifetimes of hours to months before they are destroyed by OH-radicals and other oxidizing agents.
VOCs are measured by gas chromatography using either flame ionization (GC-FID), photoionization (GC-PID) or mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as detection device.

VOCs in Switzerland 1994-present
The figure shows some examples of the more than 20 years of VOC measurements in Switzerland. More explanations can be found here.

Data availability:
A table of the data availability can be found here.