A dataset of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentrations collected near a petroleum refinery area

Air pollution is a significant environmental and public health concern, as prolonged exposure to air pollutants can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as an increased risk of cancer. Highly industrialized urban areas are characterized by the presence of a wide variety of pollutants in the air. Industrial areas with petroleum refining and petrochemical facilities emit large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, which promotes the formation of tropospheric ozone (O₃) and fine particles through photochemical processes generated in the troposphere. Furthermore, the combustion of fuels such as gasoline and diesel is a significant source of VOC emissions. VOCs represent the most hazardous class of air pollutants. Therefore, in this paper, we present a dataset containing real-time measurements of VOCs, including hexane, benzene, toluene, methane, acetone, and ammonium, as well as a calculation of the total VOCs. Furthermore, the dataset is enriched with meteorological parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind direction, and wind speed, all of which are measured within the same time window as the pollutants. The data were collected at an air quality monitoring station equipped with a low-cost sensor (LCS), located near a petroleum refining plant in Cadereyta, Nuevo León, Mexico, from March 1 to May 31, 2024. The dataset serves as a valuable resource for identifying air pollution trends in the area and for examining the correlation between VOC emissions and human health in regions associated with the petroleum refining industry.