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Aker AM, Friesen M, Ronald LA, Doyle-Waters MM, Takaro TK, Thickson W, Levin K, Meyer U, Caron-Beaudoin E, McGregor MJ. The human health effects of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD): A scoping review of epidemiologic studies. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2024; 115:446-467. [PMID: 38457120 PMCID: PMC11133301 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-024-00860-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD, sometimes termed "fracking" or "hydraulic fracturing") is an industrial process to extract methane gas and/or oil deposits. Many chemicals used in UOGD have known adverse human health effects. Canada is a major producer of UOGD-derived gas with wells frequently located in and around rural and Indigenous communities. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify the extent of research evidence assessing UOGD exposure-related health impacts, with an additional focus on Canadian studies. METHODS We included English- or French-language peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies (January 2000-December 2022) which measured exposure to UOGD chemicals directly or by proxy, and where health outcomes were plausibly caused by UOGD-related chemical exposure. Results synthesis was descriptive with results ordered by outcome and hierarchy of methodological approach. SYNTHESIS We identified 52 studies from nine jurisdictions. Only two were set in Canada. A majority (n = 27) used retrospective cohort and case-control designs. Almost half (n = 24) focused on birth outcomes, with a majority (n = 22) reporting one or more significant adverse associations of UOGD exposure with: low birthweight; small for gestational age; preterm birth; and one or more birth defects. Other studies identified adverse impacts including asthma (n = 7), respiratory (n = 13), cardiovascular (n = 6), childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (n = 2), and all-cause mortality (n = 4). CONCLUSION There is a growing body of research, across different jurisdictions, reporting associations of UOGD with adverse health outcomes. Despite the rapid growth of UOGD, which is often located in remote, rural, and Indigenous communities, Canadian research on its effects on human health is remarkably sparse. There is a pressing need for additional evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira M Aker
- Université Laval, CHU de Quebec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michael Friesen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa A Ronald
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mary M Doyle-Waters
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tim K Takaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Willow Thickson
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Karen Levin
- Emerald Environmental Consulting, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Ulrike Meyer
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Elyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Margaret J McGregor
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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2
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Bradley A, Croes BE, Harkins C, McDonald BC, de Gouw JA. Air Pollution Inequality in the Denver Metroplex and its Relationship to Historical Redlining. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4226-4236. [PMID: 38380822 PMCID: PMC10919081 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Prior studies have shown that people of color (POC) in the United States are exposed to higher levels of pollution than non-Hispanic White people. We show that the city of Denver, Colorado, displays similar race- and ethnicity-based air pollution disparities by using a combination of high-resolution satellite data, air pollution modeling, historical demographic information, and areal apportionment techniques. TROPOMI NO2 columns and modeled PM2.5 concentrations from 2019 are higher in communities subject to redlining. We calculated and compared Spearman coefficients for pollutants and race at the census tract level for every city that underwent redlining to contextualize the disparities in Denver. We find that the location of polluting infrastructure leads to higher populations of POC living near point sources, including 40% higher Hispanic and Latino populations. This influences pollution distribution, with annual average PM2.5 surface concentrations of 6.5 μg m-3 in census tracts with 0-5% Hispanic and Latino populations and 7.5 μg m-3 in census tracts with 60-65% Hispanic and Latino populations. Traffic analysis and emission inventory data show that POC are more likely to live near busy highways. Unequal spatial distribution of pollution sources and POC have allowed for pollution disparities to persist despite attempts by the city to rectify them. Finally, we identify the core causes of the pollution disparities to provide direction for remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander
C. Bradley
- University
of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Bart E. Croes
- Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Colin Harkins
- Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Chemical
Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Brian C. McDonald
- Chemical
Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Joost A. de Gouw
- University
of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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3
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Pan D, Pollack IB, Sive BC, Marsavin A, Naimie LE, Benedict KB, Zhou Y, Sullivan AP, Prenni AJ, Cope EJ, Juncosa Calahorrano JF, Fischer EV, Schichtel BA, Collett JL. Source characterization of volatile organic compounds at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2023; 73:914-929. [PMID: 37850691 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2266696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE), located in southeastern New Mexico, experiences elevated ground-level ozone (O3) exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 70 ppbv. It is situated adjacent to the Permian Basin, one of the largest oil and gas (O&G) producing regions in the US. In 2019, the Carlsbad Caverns Air Quality Study (CarCavAQS) was conducted to examine impacts of different sources on ozone precursors, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here, we use positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis of speciated VOCs to characterize VOC sources at CAVE during the study. Seven factors were identified. Three factors composed largely of alkanes and aromatics with different lifetimes were attributed to O&G development and production activities. VOCs in these factors were typical of those emitted by O&G operations. Associated residence time analyses (RTA) indicated their contributions increased in the park during periods of transport from the Permian Basin. These O&G factors were the largest contributor to VOC reactivity with hydroxyl radicals (62%). Two PMF factors were rich in photochemically generated secondary VOCs; one factor contained species with shorter atmospheric lifetimes and one with species with longer lifetimes. RTA of the secondary factors suggested impacts of O&G emissions from regions farther upwind, such as Eagle Ford Shale and Barnett Shale formations. The last two factors were attributed to alkenes likely emitted from vehicles or other combustion sources in the Permian Basin and regional background VOCs, respectively.Implications: Carlsbad Caverns National Park experiences ground-level ozone exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Volatile organic compounds are critical precursors to ozone formation. Measurements in the Park identify oil and gas production and development activities as the major contributors to volatile organic compounds. Emissions from the adjacent Permian Basin contributed to increases in primary species that enhanced local ozone formation. Observations of photochemically generated compounds indicate that ozone was also transported from shale formations and basins farther upwind. Therefore, emission reductions of volatile organic compounds from oil and gas activities are important for mitigating elevated O3 in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Pan
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ilana B Pollack
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Barkley C Sive
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Andrey Marsavin
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lillian E Naimie
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Katherine B Benedict
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amy P Sullivan
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Anthony J Prenni
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Elana J Cope
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Emily V Fischer
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Bret A Schichtel
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, CO, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Collett
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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4
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Pollack IB, Pan D, Marsavin A, Cope EJ, Juncosa Calahorrano J, Naimie L, Benedict KB, Sullivan AP, Zhou Y, Sive BC, Prenni AJ, Schichtel BA, Collett J, Fischer EV. Observations of ozone, acyl peroxy nitrates, and their precursors during summer 2019 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2023; 73:951-968. [PMID: 37850745 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2271436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE) is located in southeastern New Mexico and is adjacent to the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil and natural gas (O&G) production regions in the United States. Since 2018, ozone (O3) at CAVE has frequently exceeded the 70 ppbv 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard. We examine the influence of regional emissions on O3 formation using observations of O3, nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2), a suite of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), and peroxypropionyl nitrate (PPN). Elevated O3 and its precursors are observed when the wind is from the southeast, the direction of the Permian Basin. We identify 13 days during the July 25 to September 5, 2019 study period when the maximum daily 8-hour average (MDA8) O3 exceeded 65 ppbv; MDA8 O3 exceeded 70 ppbv on 5 of these days. The results of a positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis are used to identify and attribute source contributions of VOCs and NOx. On days when the winds are from the southeast, there are larger contributions from factors associated with primary O&G emissions; and, on high O3 days, there is more contribution from factors associated with secondary photochemical processing of O&G emissions. The observed ratio of VOCs to NOx is consistently high throughout the study period, consistent with NOx-limited O3 production. Finally, all high O3 days coincide with elevated acyl peroxy nitrate abundances with PPN to PAN ratios > 0.15 ppbv ppbv-1 indicating that anthropogenic VOC precursors, and often alkanes specifically, dominate the photochemistry.Implications: The results above strongly indicate NOx-sensitive photochemistry at Carlsbad Caverns National Park indicating that reductions in NOx emissions should drive reductions in O3. However, the NOx-sensitivity is largely driven by emissions of NOx into a VOC-rich environment, and a high PPN:PAN ratio and its relationship to O3 indicate substantial influence from alkanes in the regional photochemistry. Thus, simultaneous reductions in emissions of NOx and non-methane VOCs from the oil and gas sector should be considered for reducing O3 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Reductions in non-methane VOCs will have the added benefit of reducing formation of other secondary pollutants and air toxics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana B Pollack
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Da Pan
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrey Marsavin
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Elana J Cope
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | | | - L Naimie
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - K B Benedict
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
| | - Amy P Sullivan
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Y Zhou
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - B C Sive
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
| | - Anthony J Prenni
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Bret A Schichtel
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jeffrey Collett
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily V Fischer
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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5
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Hui L, Feng X, Yuan Q, Chen Y, Xu Y, Zheng P, Lee S, Wang Z. Abundant oxygenated volatile organic compounds and their contribution to photochemical pollution in subtropical Hong Kong. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122287. [PMID: 37562529 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are ubiquitous pollutants in the urban and regional atmosphere, promote the formation of ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosols, thereby significantly affecting the air quality and human health. The ambient VOCs at a coastal suburban site in Hong Kong were continuously measured using proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) from November 2020 to December 2020. 83 VOC species, including 23 CxHy, 53 CxHyO1-3, and 7 nitrogen-containing species, were measured during the campaign, with a mean concentration of 36.75 ppb. Oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) accounted for most (77.4%) of the measured species, including CxHyO1 (50.7%) and CxHyO2 (25.1%). The measured VOC species exhibited distinct temporal and diurnal variations. High concentrations of isoprene and OVOCs were measured in autumn with more active photochemistry, whereas large evening peaks of aromatics from local and regional primary emissions were prominent in winter. The OH reactivity and O3 formation potential (OFP) of key precursors were quantified. OVOCs contributed about half of the total OH reactivity and OFP, followed by alkenes and aromatics, and the contribution of aromatics increased significantly in winter. The potential source contribution function was used to investigate the potential source regions associated with high VOC concentrations. Through positive matrix factorization analysis, six major sources were identified based on fingerprint molecules. The contributions of biogenic sources and secondary formation to the observed species were notable in late autumn, whereas vehicle emissions and solid fuel combustion had higher contributions in winter. The findings highlight the important role of OVOCs in photochemical pollution and provide valuable insights for the development of effective pollution control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirong Hui
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Xin Feng
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Qi Yuan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Penggang Zheng
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Shuncheng Lee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
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6
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Rahav E, Belkin N, Velasquez X, Sisma-Ventura G, Guy-Haim T, Paytan A, Rubin-Blum M. Downwind gas condensate volatiles affect phytoplankton communities. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 195:115561. [PMID: 37734224 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of volatile organic carbons (VOCs) evaporated from gas condensate on the cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. WH8103, the diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis, and the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum. We used custom algal incubation chambers enabling only the gas condensate-derived VOCs to interact with the cell cultures via an atmospheric bridge, without direct contact with the hydrocarbon oil. The exposure to gas condensate VOCs reduced the abundance, growth rate, and photosynthetic efficiency of Synechococcus sp. WH8103. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assays hint at oxidative damage to the chloroplasts and/or the thylakoid membranes in this organism. A.glacialis abundance, physiological state and growth rates remained unchanged, whereas A.minutum abundance and photosynthetic efficiency increased relative to their respective controls. Our results demonstrate that the effects of a gas condensate formed due to an oil spill will not be restricted to the polluted area, but may be prominent in downwind locations through atmospheric transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rahav
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel.
| | - N Belkin
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel
| | - X Velasquez
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel
| | - G Sisma-Ventura
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel
| | - T Guy-Haim
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel
| | - A Paytan
- Institute of Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - M Rubin-Blum
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa 3108001, Israel
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Mead GJ, Waxman EM, Bon D, Herman DI, Baumann E, Giorgetta FR, Friedlein JT, Ycas G, Newbury NR, Coddington I, Cossel KC. Open-path dual-comb spectroscopy of methane and VOC emissions from an unconventional oil well development in Northern Colorado. Front Chem 2023; 11:1202255. [PMID: 37332891 PMCID: PMC10272377 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1202255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
We present results from a field study monitoring methane and volatile organic compound emissions near an unconventional oil well development in Northern Colorado from September 2019 to May 2020 using a mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer. This instrument allowed quantification of methane, ethane, and propane in a single measurement with high time resolution and integrated path sampling. Using ethane and propane as tracer gases for methane from oil and gas activity, we observed emissions during the drilling, hydraulic fracturing, millout, and flowback phases of well development. Large emissions were seen in drilling and millout phases and emissions decreased to background levels during the flowback phase. Ethane/methane and propane/methane ratios varied widely throughout the observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin J. Mead
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Eleanor M. Waxman
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Daniel Bon
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Daniel I. Herman
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Esther Baumann
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Fabrizio R. Giorgetta
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Jacob T. Friedlein
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Gabriel Ycas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nathan R. Newbury
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Ian Coddington
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Kevin C. Cossel
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Spectrum Technology and Research Division, Boulder, CO, United States
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8
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Puga A, Yalin A. Ozone Detection via Deep-Ultraviolet Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy with a Laser Driven Light Source. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23114989. [PMID: 37299716 DOI: 10.3390/s23114989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel sensing approach for ambient ozone detection based on deep-ultraviolet (DUV) cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) using a laser driven light source (LDLS). The LDLS has broadband spectral output which, with filtering, provides illumination between ~230-280 nm. The lamp light is coupled to an optical cavity formed from a pair of high-reflectivity (R~0.99) mirrors to yield an effective path length of ~58 m. The CEAS signal is detected with a UV spectrometer at the cavity output and spectra are fitted to yield the ozone concentration. We find a good sensor accuracy of <~2% error and sensor precision of ~0.3 ppb (for measurement times of ~5 s). The small-volume (<~0.1 L) optical cavity is amenable to a fast response with a sensor (10-90%) response time of ~0.5 s. Demonstrative sampling of outdoor air is also shown with favorable agreement against a reference analyzer. The DUV-CEAS sensor compares favorably against other ozone detection instruments and may be particularly useful for ground-level sampling including that from mobile platforms. The sensor development work presented here can also inform of the possibilities of DUV-CEAS with LDLSs for the detection of other ambient species including volatile organic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Puga
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Azer Yalin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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9
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Chen Y, Shi Y, Ren J, You G, Zheng X, Liang Y, Simayi M, Hao Y, Xie S. VOC species controlling O 3 formation in ambient air and their sources in Kaifeng, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27595-w. [PMID: 37219773 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27595-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The concentration of ozone has been in a rising crescendo in the last decade while the fine particles (PM2.5) is gradually decreasing but still at a high level in central China. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the vital precursors of ozone and PM2.5. A total of 101 VOC species were measured in four seasons at five sites from 2019 to 2021 in Kaifeng. VOC sources and geographic origin of sources were identified by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and the hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory transport model. The source-specific OH loss rates (LOH) and ozone formation potential (OFP) were calculated to estimate the effects of each VOC source. The average mixing ratios of total VOCs (TVOC) were 43.15 parts per billion (ppb), of which the alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, halocarbons, and oxygenated VOCs respectively accounted for 49%, 12%, 11%, 14%, and 14%. Although the mixing ratios of alkenes were comparatively low, they played a dominant role in the LOH and OFP, especially ethene (0.55 s-1, 7%; 27.11 μg/m3, 10%) and 1,3-butadiene (0.74 s-1, 10%; 12.52 μg/m3, 5%). The vehicle-related source which emitted considerable alkenes ranked as the foremost contributing factor (21%). Biomass burning was probably influenced by other cities in the western and southern Henan and other provinces, Shandong and Hebei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijia Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yuqi Shi
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jie Ren
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Guiying You
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xudong Zheng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yue Liang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Maimaiti Simayi
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yufang Hao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 5232, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland
| | - Shaodong Xie
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Subramanian A, Daley C, Lakshmanan S, Whitworth KW. Estimation of exposure to particulate matter in pregnant individuals living in an area of unconventional oil and gas operations: Findings from the EXPERIVA study. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2023; 86:383-396. [PMID: 37154018 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2023.2208594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) is an area of oil and gas exploitation, which may result in release of fine (PM2.5) and inhalable (PM10) particulate matter. The aims of this study were to: 1) apply extrapolation methods to estimate exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations among EXPERIVA (Exposures in the Peace River Valley study) participants using air quality data archives; and 2) conduct exploratory analyses to investigate correlation between PM exposure and metrics of oil and gas wells density, proximity, and activity. Gestational exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 of the EXPERIVA participants (n = 85) was estimated by averaging the concentrations measured at the closest or three closest air monitoring stations during the pregnancy period. Drilling metrics were calculated based upon the density and proximity of conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells to each participant's residence. Phase-specific metrics were determined for unconventional wells. The correlations (ρ) between exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and metrics of well density/proximity were determined using Spearman's rank correlation test. Estimated PM ambient air concentrations ranged between 4.73 to 12.13 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 7.14 to 26.61 µg/m3 for PM10. Conventional wells metrics were more strongly correlated with PM10 estimations (ρ between 0.28 and 0.79). Unconventional wells metrics for all phases were positively correlated with PM2.5 estimations (ρ between 0.23 and 0.55). These results provide evidence of a correlation between density and proximity of oil and gas wells and estimated PM exposure in the EXPERIVA participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amrita Subramanian
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Coreen Daley
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Siddharthan Lakshmanan
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kristina W Whitworth
- Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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11
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Chen D, Sandler DP, Keil AP, Heiss G, Whitsel EA, Edwards JK, Stewart PA, Stenzel MR, Groth CP, Ramachandran G, Banerjee S, Huynh TB, Jackson WB, Blair A, Lawrence KG, Kwok RK, Engel LS. Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Workers. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:57006. [PMID: 37224072 PMCID: PMC10208425 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster, response and cleanup workers were potentially exposed to toxic volatile components of crude oil. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined exposure to individual oil spill-related chemicals in relation to cardiovascular outcomes among oil spill workers. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to investigate the association of several spill-related chemicals [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, n-hexane (BTEX-H)] and total hydrocarbons (THC) with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events among workers enrolled in a prospective cohort. METHODS Cumulative exposures to THC and BTEX-H across the cleanup period were estimated via a job-exposure matrix that linked air measurement data with self-reported DWH spill work histories. We ascertained CHD events following each worker's last day of cleanup work as the first self-reported physician-diagnosed myocardial infarction (MI) or a fatal CHD event. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for the associations of exposure quintiles (Q) with risk of CHD. We applied inverse probability weights to account for bias due to confounding and loss to follow-up. We used quantile g-computation to assess the joint effect of the BTEX-H mixture. RESULTS Among 22,655 workers with no previous MI diagnoses, 509 experienced an incident CHD event through December 2019. Workers in higher quintiles of each exposure agent had increased CHD risks in comparison with the referent group (Q1) of that agent, with the strongest associations observed in Q5 (range of HR = 1.14 - 1.44 ). However, most associations were nonsignificant, and there was no evidence of exposure-response trends. We observed stronger associations among ever smokers, workers with ≤ high school education, and workers with body mass index < 30 kg / m 2 . No apparent positive association was observed for the BTEX-H mixture. CONCLUSIONS Higher exposures to volatile components of crude oil were associated with modest increases in risk of CHD among oil spill workers, although we did not observe exposure-response trends. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11859.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dazhe Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexander P. Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gerardo Heiss
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eric A. Whitsel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessie K. Edwards
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Mark R. Stenzel
- Exposure Assessment Applications, LLC, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | - Caroline P. Groth
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sudipto Banerjee
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tran B. Huynh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - W. Braxton Jackson
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc, a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aaron Blair
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G. Lawrence
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard K. Kwok
- Population Studies and Genetics Branch, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lawrence S. Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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12
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Lange SS, Shrestha L, Nnoli N, Aniagu S, Rawat S, McCant D. Do shale oil and gas production activities impact ambient air quality? A comprehensive study of 12 years of chemical concentrations and well production data from the Barnett Shale region of Texas. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 175:107930. [PMID: 37086492 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Starting around 2008, there was rapid expansion of oil and natural gas (ONG) production into more heavily populated areas within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in the Barnett Shale region of Texas. This colocation raised concerns regarding the effect of ONG activities on chemical levels in the air. In the current study, we examined the potential impacts of ONG activity on the types and concentrations of chemicals in ambient air in the Barnett Shale. Volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations from 6-12 years (2008-2019) of hourly ambient air monitoring data from 15 monitors (4 monitors had ≥ 10 years of data) were compared to several metrics of ONG activity (number of active wells, natural gas production, condensate production) within a 2-mile radius of each monitor. Monitoring sites were also classified into urban, suburban, and rural areas as a surrogate for nearby vehicular emission sources. Analyses of this huge dataset showed that both peak and mean chemical concentrations of lighter alkane hydrocarbons (e.g., ethane) were most impacted by the number of gas wells. Levels of heavier alkanes (e.g., pentane) were increased by condensate production and at monitors located in areas with greater urbanicity, and therefore higher vehicular emissions. The levels of unsaturated alkynes (e.g., ethylene) were entirely driven by urbanicity and were unaffected by nearby ONG activity. The same pattern was seen with the ratio of iso:n-pentane, which is contrary to the findings of others and suggests an area for future research. Aromatic hydrocarbons were impacted by multiple emissions sources and did not show the same patterns as non-aromatic VOCs. No VOC concentrations were at levels of concern for human health or odor based on comparison to Texas air monitoring comparison values. Overall, ONG activities impact air quality, but this must be evaluated in the context of other emission sources such as automobiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine S Lange
- Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Research Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA.
| | - Lalita Shrestha
- Formerly at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA
| | - Nnamdi Nnoli
- Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Research Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA
| | - Stanley Aniagu
- Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Research Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA
| | - Swati Rawat
- Formerly at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA
| | - Darrell McCant
- Toxicology, Risk Assessment, and Research Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Austin, TX 78753, USA
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13
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Wang S, Li Q, Duan K, Wang B, Zhu X, Wang X, Shen Y, Liu H, Ma Y. Profile of atmospheric VOC over the Yellow Sea, China: A tale of distribution, constraints, and sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161634. [PMID: 36669669 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In the winter of 2018-2019, 75 air samples were collected through four ship-borne measurements in the Yellow Sea (YS) to assess the levels, confinement processes, and source distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A total of 41 were eventually detected, which mainly were non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (VHCs), oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs), and volatile organic sulfur compounds (VSCs). Aromatics (31.93 %) and alkenes (11.04 %) in the atmosphere of the YS accounted for a larger proportion of NMHCs compared with the coastal areas. C3-C5 alkanes, propylene, and chloroform exhibited strong latitudinal gradients and opposite latitudinal distributions in the North and South YS, highlighting the strong contribution of regional outflow to YS's atmosphere. The level of Σ41VOCs increased significantly during the heavy pollution period with some chemical monomers detected, which was further enhanced by the emissions from industrial parks near the Liaodong Peninsula and the Shandong Peninsula. Five main VOC sources were identified by the Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, which were industrial emissions (13.33 %), fuel use and volatilization (6.67 %), Freon R-22 emissions (33.33 %), oil and gas production (20.00 %), and solvent volatilization (26.67 %). These observations revealed the strong causal relationship between coastal air mass transport and the atmosphere in the marginal sea and emphasized that full attention should be paid to the unintentional and unorganized emission of chemical monomers in the industrial process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Wang
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Qingbo Li
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Kuiquan Duan
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Baopeng Wang
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xinyu Zhu
- Dalian Eco-environmental Affairs Service Center, 116026, No. 58 Lianshan Street, Shahekou District, Dalian, China
| | - Xuanya Wang
- China Academy of Transportation Science, 10029, No. 240, Huixinli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Shen
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Ye Ma
- Green Shipping and Carbon Neutrality Laboratory, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, 116026, No. 1 Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
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14
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Womack CC, Chace WS, Wang S, Baasandorj M, Fibiger DL, Franchin A, Goldberger L, Harkins C, Jo DS, Lee BH, Lin JC, McDonald BC, McDuffie EE, Middlebrook AM, Moravek A, Murphy JG, Neuman JA, Thornton JA, Veres PR, Brown SS. Midlatitude Ozone Depletion and Air Quality Impacts from Industrial Halogen Emissions in the Great Salt Lake Basin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1870-1881. [PMID: 36695819 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report aircraft observations of extreme levels of HCl and the dihalogens Cl2, Br2, and BrCl in an industrial plume near the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Complete depletion of O3 was observed concurrently with halogen enhancements as a direct result of photochemically produced halogen radicals. Observed fluxes for Cl2, HCl, and NOx agreed with facility-reported emissions inventories. Bromine emissions are not required to be reported in the inventory, but are estimated as 173 Mg year-1 Br2 and 949 Mg year-1 BrCl, representing a major uncounted oxidant source. A zero-dimensional photochemical box model reproduced the observed O3 depletions and demonstrated that bromine radical cycling was principally responsible for the rapid O3 depletion. Inclusion of observed halogen emissions in both the box model and a 3D chemical model showed significant increases in oxidants and particulate matter (PM2.5) in the populated regions of the Great Salt Lake Basin, where winter PM2.5 is among the most severe air quality issues in the U.S. The model shows regional PM2.5 increases of 10%-25% attributable to this single industrial halogen source, demonstrating the impact of underreported industrial bromine emissions on oxidation sources and air quality within a major urban area of the western U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline C Womack
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Wyndom S Chace
- Department of Chemistry, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts01267, United States
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Munkhbayar Baasandorj
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah84112, United States
| | - Dorothy L Fibiger
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Alessandro Franchin
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Lexie Goldberger
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington98195, United States
| | - Colin Harkins
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Duseong S Jo
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado80307, United States
| | - Ben H Lee
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington98195, United States
| | - John C Lin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah84112, United States
| | - Brian C McDonald
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Erin E McDuffie
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Ann M Middlebrook
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Alexander Moravek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jennifer G Murphy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONM5S 1A1, Canada
| | - J Andrew Neuman
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Joel A Thornton
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington98195, United States
| | - Patrick R Veres
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
| | - Steven S Brown
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado80305, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
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15
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Lackey G, Pfander I, Gardiner J, Sherwood OA, Rajaram H, Ryan JN, Dilmore RM, Thomas B. Composition and Origin of Surface Casing Fluids in a Major US Oil- and Gas-Producing Region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17227-17235. [PMID: 36379467 PMCID: PMC9731267 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fluids leaked from oil and gas wells often originate from their surface casing─a steel pipe installed beneath the deepest underlying source of potable groundwater that serves as the final barrier around the well system. In this study, we analyze a regulatory dataset of surface casing geochemical samples collected from 2573 wells in northeastern Colorado─the only known publicly available dataset of its kind. Thermogenic gas was present in the surface casings of 96.2% of wells with gas samples. Regulatory records indicate that 73.3% of these wells were constructed to isolate the formation from which the gas originated with cement. This suggests that gas migration into the surface casing annulus predominantly occurs through compromised barriers (e.g., steel casings or cement seals), indicative of extensive integrity issues in the region. Water was collected from 22.6% of sampled surface casings. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were detected in 99.7% of surface casing water samples tested for these compounds, which may be due to the presence of leaked oil, natural gas condensate, or oil-based drilling mud. Our findings demonstrate the value of incorporating surface casing geochemical analysis in well integrity monitoring programs to identify integrity issues and focus leak mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg Lackey
- National
Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box
10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15236-0940, United States
- NETL
Support
Contractor, 626 Cochrans
Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15236, United States
| | - Isabelle Pfander
- National
Energy Technology Laboratory, 1450 Queen Avenue SW, Albany, Oregon97321, United
States
- NETL Support
Contractor, 1450 Queen
Avenue SW, Albany, Oregon97321, United States
| | - James Gardiner
- National
Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box
10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15236-0940, United States
- NETL
Support
Contractor, 626 Cochrans
Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15236, United States
| | - Owen A. Sherwood
- Department
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie
University, Halifax, Nova ScotiaB3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Harihar Rajaram
- Department
of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland21205, United States
| | - Joseph N. Ryan
- Department
of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Robert M. Dilmore
- National
Energy Technology Laboratory, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box
10940, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15236-0940, United States
| | - Burt Thomas
- National
Energy Technology Laboratory, 1450 Queen Avenue SW, Albany, Oregon97321, United
States
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16
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Dai C, Chen M, Mu W, Peng B, Yu G, Liu N, Xu R, Wang N, Chen B. Highly efficient toluene absorption with π-electron donor-based deep eutectic solvents. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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17
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Chen T, Huang L, Zhang X, Gao R, Li H, Fan K, Ma D, Ma Z, Xue L, Wang W. Effects of coal chemical industry on atmospheric volatile organic compounds emission and ozone formation in a northwestern Chinese city. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156149. [PMID: 35643128 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coal is well known as the primary energy consumption in China, and the coal chemical industry (CCI) can serve as an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions. However, the characteristics of VOCs emitted from CCI along with their environmental consequences are still poorly understood. To pin down this, an intensive field campaign was carried out at a typical CCI city in northwestern China (Yulin) from February 26 to March 7, 2021. Results showed that VOC compositions in Yulin were distinct from those in the megacities of China as well as in the typical oilfields over the world. The concentration of naphthalene (1.6 ± 1.1 ppbv), an important byproduct of CCI, was significantly higher than that in other cities (<0.2 ppbv). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model analysis revealed that the direct contribution of the CCI source for VOC emissions is 8.8 ± 1.8%. More importantly, these VOCs emitted from the CCI can account for 17.9 ± 6.8% of ozone (O3) formation potential and 16.9 ± 7.4% of OH reactivity of VOCs, suggesting the significant impacts of the CCI on the air quality and atmospheric oxidizing capacity. During the observation, a rapid increase in O3 concentration after a snowfall was encountered. The changing rate of O3 concentration in the daytime was significantly higher than in its peripheral cities. The increased O3 formation was partially attributed to the CCI, and this enhancement can be further magnified by snow cover due to the increment of surface albedo. These findings deepen the understanding of the characteristics and air quality impact of VOCs related to the CCI and provide valuable insights for the development of air quality control measures in the region influenced by intensive coal chemical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Chen
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Liubin Huang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Hong Li
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Kai Fan
- Yulin Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Yulin 719000, China
| | - Dun Ma
- Yulin Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, Yulin 719000, China
| | - Zhaokun Ma
- Shandong Academy for Environmental Planning, Ji'nan 250101, China
| | - Likun Xue
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
| | - Wenxing Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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18
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Prenni AJ, Benedict KB, Day DE, Sive BC, Zhou Y, Naimie L, Gebhart KA, Dombek T, De Boskey M, Hyslop NP, Spencer E, Chew QM, Collett JL, Schichtel BA. Wintertime haze and ozone at Dinosaur National Monument. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2022; 72:951-968. [PMID: 35254216 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2022.2048922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dinosaur National Monument (DINO) is located near the northeastern edge of the Uinta Basin and often experiences elevated levels of wintertime ground-level ozone. Previous studies have shown that high ozone mixing ratios in the Uinta Basin are driven by elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from regional oil and gas development coupled with temperature inversions and enhanced photochemistry from persistent snow cover. Here, we show that persistent snow cover and temperature inversions, along with abundant ammonia, also lead to wintertime haze in this region. A study was conducted at DINO from November 2018 through May 2020 where ozone, speciated fine and coarse aerosols, inorganic gases, and VOCs were measured. Three National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) ozone exceedances were observed in the first winter, and no exceedances were observed in the second winter. In contrast, elevated levels of particulate matter were observed both winters, with 24-h averaged particle light extinction exceeding 100 Mm-1. These haze events were dominated by ammonium nitrate, and particulate organics were highly correlated with ammonium nitrate. Ammonium nitrate formation was limited by nitric acid in winter. As such, reductions in regional NOx emissions should reduce haze levels and improve visibility at DINO in winter. Long-term measurements of particulate matter from nearby Vernal, Utah, suggest that visibility impairment is a persistent issue in the Uinta Basin in winter. From April through October 2019, relatively clean conditions occurred, with average particle extinction of ~10 Mm-1. During this period, ammonium nitrate concentrations were lower by more than an order of magnitude, and contributions from coarse mass and soil to haze levels increased. VOC markers indicated that the high levels of observed pollutants in winter were likely from local sources related to oil and gas extraction activities.Implications: Elevated ground-level ozone and haze levels were observed at Dinosaur National Monument in winter. Haze episodes were dominated by ammonium nitrate, with 24-h averaged particle light extinction exceeding 100 Mm-1, reducing visual range near the surface to ~35 km. Despite elevated ammonium nitrate concentrations, additional gas-phase ammonia was available, such that any increase in NOx emissions in the region is likely to lead to even greater haze levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Prenni
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
| | - Katherine B Benedict
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Derek E Day
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Barkley C Sive
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Lilly Naimie
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kristi A Gebhart
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
| | - Tracy Dombek
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miranda De Boskey
- Analytical Sciences, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole P Hyslop
- University of California, Davis, Air Quality Research Center, Davis, California, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey L Collett
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Bret A Schichtel
- National Park Service, Air Resources Division, Lakewood, Colorado, USA
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Xiu M, Jayaratne R, Thai P, Christensen B, Zing I, Liu X, Morawska L. Evaluating the applicability of the ratio of PM 2.5 and carbon monoxide as source signatures. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119278. [PMID: 35461883 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is among the top risk faced by people around the world, and therefore combating it is among the top priorities. It begins with identifying the sources that contribute the most to local air pollution to prioritize their control. There are advanced methods for source identification and apportionment, but such methods are not available in many low-income countries and not everywhere in all high-income countries. We propose a simplified method by using source the signatures to help obtain information about the local source contribution if no other methods are available. Using low-cost monitors, particle mass (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were measured and the ratio of CO/PM2.5 was determined. We investigated outdoor and indoor sources, including vehicular exhaust, combustion of biomass, incense and mosquito coil burning, and cigarette smoking. The results show that the ratios differed significantly between certain pollutant sources. Compressed natural gas (CNG) engines have a high ratio (mean value of 972 ± 419), which is attributed to relatively low PM2.5 emissions, while ship emissions and cigarette smoke recorded a relatively low ratio. Most traffic emissions recorded higher ratios than those of bushfire emissions, and ratios of most outdoor pollutant sources were much higher than those of indoor pollutant sources. There is a clear trend for ratios to decrease from high to low for CNG, petrol, diesel for buses, and fuel for ships. Our results suggest that the ratio of CO/PM2.5 can be used as an effective method to identify pollution sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Xiu
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rohan Jayaratne
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Phong Thai
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Science, The University of Queensland, 4102, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bryce Christensen
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Isak Zing
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Xiaoting Liu
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, 4000, Brisbane, Australia; Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
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20
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Michanowicz DR, Dayalu A, Nordgaard CL, Buonocore JJ, Fairchild MW, Ackley R, Schiff JE, Liu A, Phillips NG, Schulman A, Magavi Z, Spengler JD. Home is Where the Pipeline Ends: Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Present in Natural Gas at the Point of the Residential End User. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10258-10268. [PMID: 35762409 PMCID: PMC9301916 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in unprocessed natural gas (NG) is well documented; however, the degree to which VOCs are present in NG at the point of end use is largely uncharacterized. We collected 234 whole NG samples across 69 unique residential locations across the Greater Boston metropolitan area, Massachusetts. NG samples were measured for methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and nonmethane VOC (NMVOC) content (including tentatively identified compounds) using commercially available USEPA analytical methods. Results revealed 296 unique NMVOC constituents in end use NG, of which 21 (or approximately 7%) were designated as hazardous air pollutants. Benzene (bootstrapped mean = 164 ppbv; SD = 16; 95% CI: 134-196) was detected in 95% of samples along with hexane (98% detection), toluene (94%), heptane (94%), and cyclohexane (89%), contributing to a mean total concentration of NMVOCs in distribution-grade NG of 6.0 ppmv (95% CI: 5.5-6.6). While total VOCs exhibited significant spatial variability, over twice as much temporal variability was observed, with a wintertime NG benzene concentration nearly eight-fold greater than summertime. By using previous NG leakage data, we estimated that 120-356 kg/yr of annual NG benzene emissions throughout Greater Boston are not currently accounted for in emissions inventories, along with an unaccounted-for indoor portion. NG-odorant content (tert-butyl mercaptan and isopropyl mercaptan) was used to estimate that a mean NG-CH4 concentration of 21.3 ppmv (95% CI: 16.7-25.9) could persist undetected in ambient air given known odor detection thresholds. This implies that indoor NG leakage may be an underappreciated source of both CH4 and associated VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew R. Michanowicz
- Harvard
T.H. Chan School of Public Health, C-CHANGE, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 United States
- PSE
Healthy Energy, Oakland, California 94612, United States
- ,
| | - Archana Dayalu
- Atmospheric
and Environmental Research (AER), Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, United States
| | | | - Jonathan J. Buonocore
- Harvard
T.H. Chan School of Public Health, C-CHANGE, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 United States
| | - Molly W. Fairchild
- Home
Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Robert Ackley
- Gas
Safety Inc., Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, United States
| | - Jessica E. Schiff
- Harvard
T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Abbie Liu
- Harvard
T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | | | - Audrey Schulman
- Home
Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Zeyneb Magavi
- Home
Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - John D. Spengler
- Harvard
T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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Paul S, Bari MA. Elucidating sources of VOCs in the Capital Region of New York State: Implications to secondary transformation and public health exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134407. [PMID: 35341770 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban areas is of interest because of their potential adverse effects to public health. A study was carried out to elucidate ambient sources of VOCs in the Capital Region of New York State for the period 2015-2019. A combined dataset of VOCs and PM2.5 species was used in positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to better interpret the complex nature of different sources. Ten sources were revealed, where background source (3.8 μg/m3, 30%) was the largest contributor to VOCs, followed by petroleum-related emissions (2.9 μg/m3, 22%) and pyrolyzed oxygen (OP)-Elemental Carbon (EC2)-aldehydes-rich (2.7 μg/m3, 21%). Other notable VOC sources included methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)-rich, vehicular traffic, and biomass burning. Both OP-EC2-aldehydes-rich and petroleum-related emissions showed notable contribution to ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, respectively. Observed mean carcinogenic risk values of benzene and formaldehyde and 95th percentiles risk values of 1,3-butadiene and acetaldehyde were above the USEPA acceptable level of 1x10-6 but below a tolerable risk of 1x10-4. Estimated carcinogenic risk values of OP-EC2-aldehydes-rich, vehicular traffic, background and petroleum-related emissions were above the USEPA acceptable cancer risk and posed greater risk to public health (more than 80% of total carcinogenic risk) compared to other sources. Due to lack of some VOC species data (e.g., alkanes, alkenes, terpenes, alcohols), other urban VOC sources e.g., fugitive emissions, fuel evaporation, unburned fuel were not identified. More work is needed to better understand the contribution of VOC sources to O3 and SOA formation in Albany and surrounding region. Findings can support policy makers in developing appropriate air quality management initiatives for the Capital Region in New York State.
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22
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Feng Y, Ding D, Xiao A, Li B, Jia R, Guo Y. Characteristics, influence factors, and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds through one year of high-resolution measurement at a refinery. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 296:134004. [PMID: 35181418 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
From January 2020 to December 2020, high-resolution data of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations were monitored by online instruments at a petroleum refinery. The measurement results showed that the external contaminants, meteorological conditions and photochemical reactions had a great influence on the VOC data measured in the petroleum refineries. Some significant differences were observed in the emission composition of different refineries, while propene (34.2%), propane (10.2%), n-butane (5.6%), i-pentane (5.0%) were the dominant species emitted from the refinery in this study. The correlations between compounds with similar atmospheric lifetimes were strong (R2 > 0.9), which indicated that the diagnostic ratios of these compounds could be used as indicators to identify the refinery emission source. Chronic health effects of non-carcinogenic risk results showed that acrolein had the highest non-carcinogenic risk and other compound-specific health risks may be of less concern in the refining area. Halogenates and aromatics accounted for 97.4% of the total carcinogenic risk values, while 1,2-dibromoethane, chloromethane, benzene, trichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane contributed approximately 80% of the total carcinogenic risk assessment values. This research has recorded valuable data about the VOC emission characteristics from the perspective of the high-resolution monitoring of the petroleum refinery. The results of this work will provide a reference to accurately quantify and identify the emission of petroleum refineries and further throw some light on effective VOC abatement strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxia Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China.
| | - Dewu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China
| | - Anshan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China
| | - Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China
| | - Runzhong Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China
| | - Yirong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, PR China
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Atmospheric Carbonyl Compounds in the Central Taklimakan Desert in Summertime: Ambient Levels, Composition and Sources. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Although carbonyl compounds are a key species with atmospheric oxidation capacity, their concentrations and sources have not been sufficiently characterized in various atmospheres, especially in desert areas. In this study, atmospheric carbonyl compounds were measured from 16 May to 15 June 2018 in Tazhong in the central Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Concentrations, chemical compositions, and sources of carbonyl compounds were investigated and compared with those of different environments worldwide. The average concentration of total carbonyls during the sampling period was 11.79 ± 4.03 ppbv. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were the most abundant carbonyls, with average concentrations of 6.08 ± 2.37, 1.68 ± 0.78, and 2.52 ± 0.68 ppbv, respectively. Strong correlations between formaldehyde and other carbonyls were found, indicating same or similar sources and sinks. A hybrid single-particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory was used to analyze 72 h back trajectories. The values of C1/C2 (formaldehyde to acetaldehyde, 3.22–4.59) and C2/C3 (acetaldehyde to propionaldehyde, 15.00–17.03) from different directions and distances of the trajectories were consistent with the characteristics of a remote area. Relative to various environments, the carbonyl concentration in the Tazhong desert site was lower than that in urban areas and higher than that in suburban and remote areas, implying contributions from local primary and secondary sources. The obtained data can be used to improve the source and sink estimation of carbonyls at the regional scale.
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Helmig D, Fangmeyer J, Fuchs J, Hueber J, Smith K. Evaluation of selected solid adsorbents for passive sampling of atmospheric oil and natural gas non-methane hydrocarbons. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2022; 72:235-255. [PMID: 34738882 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2021.2000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This project investigated passive adsorbent sampling of light (C2-C5) hydrocarbons which are sensitive tracers of fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) sources. Stronger adsorbent materials, i.e. Carboxen 1000 and Carboxen 1016, than those typically used in adsorbent sampling were considered. Experiments were conducted in laboratory and field settings using thermal desorption - gas chromatography analysis. Uptake of water vapor and system blanks were challenges inherent to the increased affinity of these adsorbents. Carboxen 1000 exhibited the best signal-to-noise ratio for the target compounds after optimizing conditioning parameters to reduce blanks, and by reducing the adsorbent mass loaded in the cartridge. This strategy reduced blanks to equivalent ambient air mole fractions of <0.05 nmol mol-1 (ppb), and allowed determination of these O&NG tracers over three-day sampling intervals with a lower detection limit of ≥0.5-1 ppb. Linear VOCs uptake was observed in dry air. Water uptake was as high as 0.65 gH2O g-1adsorbent at relative humidity (RH) above ≈ 75%. The water collection passivates adsorbent sites and competes with the uptake rates of VOCs; under the worst case relative humidity level of 95% RH, VOCs uptake rates dropped to 27-39% of those in dry air. This effect potentially causes results to be biased low when cartridges are deployed at high relative humidity (RH), including overnight, when RH is often elevated over daytime levels. Nonetheless, representative sampling results were obtained under ambient conditions during three field studies where cartridges were evaluated alongside whole air sample collection in canisters. Agreement varied by compound: Ethane and alkenes correlated poorly and could not be analyzed with satisfactory results; results for C3-C5 alkanes were much better: i-butane correlated with R2 > 0.5, and propane, n-butane, i-pentane, and n-pentane with R2 > 0.75, which demonstrates the feasibility of the passive sampling of these latter O&NG tracers. Implications: Oil and natural gas development has been associated with emissions of petroleum hydrocarbons that impact air quality and human health. This research characterizes and defines the application possibilities of solid adsorbent sampling for atmospheric passive sampling monitoring of low molecular weight volatile organic compounds (i.e. ethane through pentane isomers) that are most commonly emitted from natural gas drilling and well sites. The passive sampling of these pollutants offers a simple, low cost, and readily applicable monitoring method for assessing emissions and air quality impacts in the surroundings of oil and gas operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Boulder A.I.R. LLC, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jens Fangmeyer
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Joshua Fuchs
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jacques Hueber
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Kate Smith
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
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25
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Wei X, Ye M, Yuan L, Bi W, Lu W. Analyzing the Freight Characteristics and Carbon Emission of Construction Waste Hauling Trucks: Big Data Analytics of Hong Kong. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042318. [PMID: 35206502 PMCID: PMC8872571 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Unlike their counterparts that are used for container or municipal solid waste hauling, or their peers of taxies and other commercial vehicles, construction waste hauling trucks (CWHTs) are heterogeneous in that they transport construction waste from construction sites to designated disposal facilities. Depending on the intensity of the construction activities, there are many CWHTs in operation, imposing massive impacts on a region’s transportation system and natural environment. However, such impacts have rarely been documented. This paper has analyzed CWHTs’ freight characteristics and their carbon emission by harnessing a big dataset of 112,942 construction waste transport trips in Hong Kong in May 2015. It has been observed that CWHTs generate 4544 daily trips with 307.64 tons CO2-eq emitted on working days, and 553 daily trips emitting 28.78 tons CO2-eq on non-working days. Freight carbon emission has been found to be related to the vehicle type, transporting weight, and trip length, while the trip length is the most influential metric to carbon emission. This research contributes to the understanding of freight characteristics by exploiting a valuable big dataset and providing important benchmarking metrics for monitoring the effectiveness of policy interventions related to construction waste transportation planning and carbon emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Wei
- School of Management Science and Real Estate, International Research Center for Sustainable Built Environment, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong, China; (L.Y.); (W.B.); (W.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Meng Ye
- School of Economics and Management, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610000, China;
| | - Liang Yuan
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong, China; (L.Y.); (W.B.); (W.L.)
| | - Wei Bi
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong, China; (L.Y.); (W.B.); (W.L.)
| | - Weisheng Lu
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong, China; (L.Y.); (W.B.); (W.L.)
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Pollack IB, McCabe ME, Caulton DR, Fischer EV. Enhancements in Ammonia and Methane from Agricultural Sources in the Northeastern Colorado Front Range Using Observations from a Small Research Aircraft. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:2236-2247. [PMID: 35076215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying ammonia (NH3) to methane (CH4) enhancement ratios from agricultural sources is important for understanding air pollution and nitrogen deposition. The northeastern Colorado Front Range is home to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that produce large emissions of NH3 and CH4. Isolating enhancements of NH3 and CH4 in this region due to agriculture is complicated because CAFOs are often located within regions of oil and natural gas (O&NG) extraction that are a major source of CH4 and other alkanes. Here, we utilize a small research aircraft to collect in situ 1 Hz measurements of gas-phase NH3, CH4, and ethane (C2H6) downwind of CAFOs during three flights conducted in November 2019. Enhancements in NH3 and CH4 are distinguishable up to 10 km downwind of CAFOs with the most concentrated portions of the plumes typically below 0.25 km AGL. We demonstrate that NH3 and C2H6 can be jointly used to separate near-source enhancements in CH4 from agriculture and O&NG. Molar enhancement ratios of NH3 to CH4 are quantified for individual CAFOs in this region, and they range from 0.8 to 2.7 ppbv ppbv-1. A multivariate regression model produces enhancement ratios and quantitative regional source contributions that are consistent with prior studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilana B Pollack
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Megan E McCabe
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States
| | - Dana R Caulton
- Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States
| | - Emily V Fischer
- Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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27
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Whyte KP, Bouchard MF, Chevrier J, Haddad S, Copes R, Frohlich KL, Dokkie D, Juul S, Bouchard M, Verner MA. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air and tap water samples in residences of pregnant women living in an area of unconventional natural gas operations: Findings from the EXPERIVA study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150242. [PMID: 34818775 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) is an area of unconventional natural gas (UNG) exploitation by hydraulic fracturing, which can release several contaminants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To evaluate gestational exposure to contaminants in this region, we undertook the Exposures in the Peace River Valley (EXPERIVA) study. OBJECTIVES We aimed to: 1) measure VOCs in residential indoor air and tap water from EXPERIVA participants; 2) compare concentrations with those in the general population and explore differences related to sociodemographic and housing characteristics; and 3) determine associations between VOC concentrations and density/proximity to UNG wells. METHODS Eighty-five pregnant women participated. Passive air samplers were analyzed for 47 VOCs, and tap water samples were analyzed for 44 VOCs. VOC concentrations were compared with those from the Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS). We assessed the association between different metrics of well density/proximity and indoor air and tap water VOC concentrations using multiple linear regression. RESULTS 40 VOCs were detected in >50% of air samples, whereas only 4 VOCs were detected in >50% of water samples. We observed indoor air concentrations >95th percentile of CHMS in 10-60% of samples for several compounds (acetone, 2-methyl-2-propanol, chloroform, 1,4-dioxane, hexanal, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, styrene, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecane and decanal). Indoor air levels of chloroform and tap water levels of total trihalomethanes were higher in Indigenous participants compared to non-Indigenous participants. Indoor air levels of chloroform and acetone, and tap water levels of total trihalomethanes were positively associated with UNG wells density/proximity metrics. Indoor air BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) levels were positively correlated with some well density/proximity metrics. CONCLUSION Our results suggest higher exposure to certain VOCs in pregnant women living in an area of intense unconventional natural gas exploitation compared with the general Canadian population, and that well density/proximity is associated with increased exposure to certain VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Kyle Powys Whyte
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Québec, Canada
| | - Sami Haddad
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ray Copes
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine L Frohlich
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dean Dokkie
- West Moberly First Nations, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sonje Juul
- Cumming School of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michèle Bouchard
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
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Castner J, Huntington-Moskos L, May A. Generating Data Visualizations of Longitudinal Cohort Ambient Air Pollution Exposure: Report-Back Intervention Development in Participatory Action Research. Comput Inform Nurs 2022; 40:44-52. [PMID: 34412083 PMCID: PMC8742747 DOI: 10.1097/cin.0000000000000821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A civic engagement and data science design was used to develop a report-back intervention to address stakeholder concerns related to air emissions surrounding a coke oven factory near Buffalo, NY. This factory had historically emitted high levels of benzene pollution and ceased operation in October 2018 because of violations of the US Clean Air Act and US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Using publicly available air pollution and weather data, descriptive time series and wind-rose data visualizations were developed using open-source software as part of a two-page report-back brief. Data from two air toxics monitoring sites in this direction suggest that industrial sources were likely the major contributor to the benzene in the air at these locations prior to May 2018, after which traffic emissions became the likely major contributor. Wind-rose visualizations demonstrated that the wind typically blew toward the northeast, which was qualitatively consistent with locations of stakeholder concerns. With the factory closed, collective efforts subsequently shifted to address traffic emission air pollution sources, factory site cleanup, and ground and water pollution mitigation. Because this intervention utilized open-source software and publicly available data, it can serve as a blueprint for future data-driven nursing interventions and community-led environmental justice efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Castner
- Author Affiliations: Castner Incorporated, Grand Island, NY (Dr Castner); University of Louisville School of Nursing, KY (Dr Huntington-Moskos); and Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus (Dr May)
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Meng Y, Song J, Zeng L, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Liu X, Guo H, Zhong L, Ou Y, Zhou Y, Zhang T, Yue D, Lai S. Ambient volatile organic compounds at a receptor site in the Pearl River Delta region: Variations, source apportionment and effects on ozone formation. J Environ Sci (China) 2022; 111:104-117. [PMID: 34949340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We present the continuously measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at a receptor site (Wan Qing Sha, WQS) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region from September to November of 2017. The average mixing ratios of total VOCs (TVOCs) was 36.3 ± 27.9 ppbv with the dominant contribution from alkanes (55.5%), followed by aromatics (33.3%). The diurnal variation of TVOCs showed a strong photochemical consumption during daytime, resulting in the formation of ozone (O3). Five VOC sources were resolved by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, including solvent usage (28.6%), liquid petroleum gas (LPG) usage (24.4%), vehicle exhaust (21.0%), industrial emissions (13.2%) and gasoline evaporation (12.9%). The regional transport air masses from the upwind cities of south China can result in the elevated concentrations of TVOCs. Low ratios of TVOCs/NOx (1.53 ± 0.88) suggested that the O3 formation regime at WQS site was VOC-limited, which also confirmed by a photochemical box model with the master chemical mechanism (PBM-MCM). Furthermore, the observation on high-O3 episode days revealed that frequent O3 outbreaks at WQS were mainly caused by the regional transport of anthropogenic VOCs especially for aromatics and the subsequent photochemical reactions. This study provides valuable information for policymakers to propose the effective control strategies on photochemical pollution in a regional perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Meng
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junwei Song
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Lewei Zeng
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Xufei Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hai Guo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liuju Zhong
- Guangdong Polytechnic of Environmental Protection Engineering, Foshan 528216, China
| | - Yubo Ou
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Dingli Yue
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Air Quality Monitoring, Guangzhou 510308, China.
| | - Senchao Lai
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Kumar A, Hakkim H, Ghude SD, Sinha V. Probing wintertime air pollution sources in the Indo-Gangetic Plain through 52 hydrocarbons measured rarely at Delhi & Mohali. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 801:149711. [PMID: 34438157 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
During wintertime, the Indo-Gangetic Plain suffers from severe air pollution affecting several hundred million people. Here we present unprecedented measurements and source analyses of 52 NMHCs (25 alkanes, 16 aromatics, 10 alkenes and one alkyne) in the cities of Delhi and Mohali (300 km north of Delhi) during wintertime (Dec 2016-Jan 2017). NMHCs were measured using a thermal desorption gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionisation detectors with data traceable to WMO standards. The ten most abundant NMHCs that were measured were the same at both Delhi and Mohali: propane, n-butane, acetylene, ethane, toluene, i-butane, ethene, i-pentane, benzene and propene and accounted for >50% of total measured NMHC mass concentration (137 ± 5.8 μg m-3 in Mohali and 239 ± 7.7 μg m-3 in Delhi). Ambient NMHCs and calculated hydroxyl radical reactivity were approximately twice as high in Delhi relative to Mohali, and 2-12 times higher than most other mega-cities, except Lahore and Karachi. Using chemical source signatures, traffic and LPG usage emissions were identified as the major contributor of these reactive NMHCs at both sites during nighttime, with additional minor contributions of garbage burning in Mohali, and evaporative fuel and biomass burning emissions in Delhi. Comparison of NMHC/CO and NMHC/C2H2 ratios over Mohali and Delhi, to other cities, suggested gasoline/petrol-fuelled vehicles were major NMHC emitters within the traffic source. The data from both Mohali and Delhi suggest that a large fraction of the fleet comprised vehicles with older emission control in both Mohali and Delhi. Analyses revealed poor representation of propene, ethene and trimethylbenzenes in the emission inventory (EDGARv4.3.2) over Mohali and Delhi. This study provides key data and new insights into the sources of reactive NMHCs (lifetime < few days) that drive regional wintertime pollution through direct effects and the formation of secondary pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kumar
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Manauli PO, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Haseeb Hakkim
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Manauli PO, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Sachin D Ghude
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune 411008, India
| | - Vinayak Sinha
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Sector 81, SAS Nagar, Manauli PO, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India.
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Casey JA, Cushing L, Depsky N, Morello-Frosch R. Climate Justice and California's Methane Superemitters: Environmental Equity Assessment of Community Proximity and Exposure Intensity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:14746-14757. [PMID: 34668703 PMCID: PMC8936179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Methane superemitters emit non-methane copollutants that are harmful to human health. Yet, no prior studies have assessed disparities in exposure to methane superemitters with respect to race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and civic engagement. To do so, we obtained the location, category (e.g., landfill, refinery), and emission rate of California methane superemitters from Next Generation Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG) flights conducted between 2016 and 2018. We identified block groups within 2 km of superemitters (exposed) and 5-10 km away (unexposed) using dasymetric mapping and assigned level of exposure among block groups within 2 km (measured via number of superemitter categories and total methane emissions). Analyses included 483 superemitters. The majority were dairy/manure (n = 213) and oil/gas production sites (n = 127). Results from fully adjusted logistic mixed models indicate environmental injustice in methane superemitter locations. For example, for every 10% increase in non-Hispanic Black residents, the odds of exposure increased by 10% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04, 1.17). We observed similar disparities for Hispanics and Native Americans but not with indicators of socioeconomic status. Among block groups located within 2 km, increasing proportions of non-White populations and lower voter turnout were associated with higher superemitter emission intensity. Previously unrecognized racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to California methane superemitters should be considered in policies to tackle methane emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan A. Casey
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, New York, NY 10034, USA
- Co-corresponding authors: ,
| | - Lara Cushing
- University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nicholas Depsky
- University of California, Berkeley, Energy and Resources Group, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Co-corresponding authors: ,
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Johnston JE, Okorn K, Van Horne YO, Jimenez A. Changes in neighborhood air quality after idling of an urban oil production site. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:967-980. [PMID: 34037015 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00048a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oil and gas development is occurring in urban, densely populated neighborhoods; however, the impacts of these operations on neighborhood air quality are not well characterized. In this research, we leveraged ambient air monitoring adjacent to an oil and gas production site in Los Angeles, California during active and idle periods. This study analyzed continuous methane (CH4) and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) measurements, together with triggered grab samples and 24 hour integrated canister samples collected by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Ambient air pollutant levels and trends were evaluated during active and idle well operations to assess changes in neighborhood air quality after the suspension of oil and gas production. We find that mean concentrations of methane, NMHC, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene, n-hexane, n-pentane, ethane, and propane decreased following the stop in production activities. Using a source apportionment approach, we observed that the "natural gas" drilling source contributed 23.7% to the total VOCs measured during the active phase, and only 0.6% to the total measured VOCs in the idle phase. Near urban oil and gas production sites, residents may face poorer air quality due to the oil and gas activities which may pose adverse health and environmental risks among proximate communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Kristen Okorn
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Amanda Jimenez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Francoeur CB, McDonald BC, Gilman JB, Zarzana KJ, Dix B, Brown SS, de Gouw JA, Frost GJ, Li M, McKeen SA, Peischl J, Pollack IB, Ryerson TB, Thompson C, Warneke C, Trainer M. Quantifying Methane and Ozone Precursor Emissions from Oil and Gas Production Regions across the Contiguous US. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9129-9139. [PMID: 34161066 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We present an updated fuel-based oil and gas (FOG) inventory with estimates of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from oil and natural gas production in the contiguous US (CONUS). We compare the FOG inventory with aircraft-derived ("top-down") emissions for NOx over footprints that account for ∼25% of US oil and natural gas production. Across CONUS, we find that the bottom-up FOG inventory combined with other anthropogenic emissions is on average within ∼10% of top-down aircraft-derived NOx emissions. We also find good agreement in the trends of NOx from drilling- and production-phase activities, as inferred by satellites and in the bottom-up inventory. Leveraging tracer-tracer relationships derived from aircraft observations, methane (CH4) and non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) emissions have been added to the inventory. Our total CONUS emission estimates for 2015 of oil and natural gas are 0.45 ± 0.14 Tg NOx/yr, 15.2 ± 3.0 Tg CH4/yr, and 5.7 ± 1.7 Tg NMVOC/yr. Compared to the US National Emissions Inventory and Greenhouse Gas Inventory, FOG NOx emissions are ∼40% lower, while inferred CH4 and NMVOC emissions are up to a factor of ∼2 higher. This suggests that NMVOC/NOx emissions from oil and gas basins are ∼3 times higher than current estimates and will likely affect how air quality models represent ozone formation downwind of oil and gas fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colby B Francoeur
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Brian C McDonald
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Jessica B Gilman
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Kyle J Zarzana
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Barbara Dix
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Steven S Brown
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Joost A de Gouw
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Gregory J Frost
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Meng Li
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Stuart A McKeen
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Jeff Peischl
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Ilana B Pollack
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Thomas B Ryerson
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Chelsea Thompson
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Michael Trainer
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
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Bera B, Bhattacharjee S, Shit PK, Sengupta N, Saha S. Variation and correlation between ultraviolet index and tropospheric ozone during COVID-19 lockdown over megacities of India. STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT : RESEARCH JOURNAL 2021; 36:409-427. [PMID: 34093082 PMCID: PMC8164408 DOI: 10.1007/s00477-021-02033-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide spread out of COVID-19 in a short-time has brought a significant decline of road traffic, tourist flow and industrial ventures. During this emergency period, the restricted human dealings with nature have appeared as blessing for health of the total environment. The variation of atmospheric O3 may modulate the range of UV index (UVI) at any region of the earth. The objective of the study is to examine the variation of UV index over the megacities of India with respect to tropospheric O3 level modification during COVID-19 lockdown. The meteorological or environmental data (temperature in °C, gust in km/h, wind speed km/h, relative humidity in %, air pressure in mb and cloud cover in okta) of four selective megacities of India (Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai) during and pre lockdown period have been obtained to comprehend about the variation of UV index and tropospheric O3. The descriptive statistical applications i.e. standard deviation, standard errors and K-means clustering have been done through standard statistical software. In the present study, t-test has been used to understand level of significance of surface O3 and UVI during pre-lockdown (2019) and lockdown (2020) phase. The result shows that the four major megacities in India namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai have experienced the vibrant diminution in terms of the concentration of UV index with slightly increasing the tropospheric O3 level during the lockdown phase. The higher accumulation of O3 during the lockdown in the lower atmosphere of four megacities does not exceed the permissible limit. The excess amount of O3 has remarkably contributed to trap the harmful UV radiation which has lowered the UVI in these worst polluted megacities of India. In the meantime, the prominent reduction of NOx during the lockdown period decreases the titration impact to O3 and this mechanism helps to revitalize the ozone concentration level. The uniqueness of the current study is highlighted the ground reality regarding reduction of UV index and amplification of tropospheric O3 concentration during lockdown phase. This study definitely assists to make new environmental policy, act and law for recover the health of the total environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajit Bera
- Department of Geography, Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Sainik School, Ranchi Road, P.O., Purulia, 723104 India
| | - Sumana Bhattacharjee
- Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata, 700019 India
| | - Pravat Kumar Shit
- Department of Geography and Environment Management, Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College, Gope Palace, P.O. Vidyasagar University, Paschim Medinipur, 721102 India
| | - Nairita Sengupta
- Department of Geography, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Sarisha, 743368 India
| | - Soumik Saha
- Department of Geography, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata, 700019 India
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Asher E, Hills AJ, Hornbrook RS, Shertz S, Gabbard S, Stephens BB, Helmig D, Apel EC. Unpiloted Aircraft System Instrument for the Rapid Collection of Whole Air Samples and Measurements for Environmental Monitoring and Air Quality Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:5657-5667. [PMID: 33881834 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A new airborne system, the Whole Air Sampling Pilotless Platform (WASPP), is described for the collection of whole air samples and in situ meteorological measurements onboard a commercial hexacopter. Rapid sample collection enables the collection ≤15 air samples per flight in positively pressurized miniature canisters, subsequently analyzed on a mated analytical system for up to 80 nonmethane volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The WASPP is well suited to investigate VOC gradients in urban environments impacted by traffic, industry, and oil and natural gas (O&NG) development, but has the sensitivity to characterize continental background conditions, as shown here using a subset of >40 species. We document empirical tests to minimize the influence of rotor wash and other sampling artifacts and report favorable results of laboratory-based calibrations of the WASPP's meteorological sensors and field-based comparisons of WASPP's VOC measurements and horizontal wind velocity measurements. Airborne WASPP measurements can complement and enhance ground-based VOC monitoring efforts by providing substantial meteorological and VOC measurement capability across vertical and horizontal spatial scales. These measurements reveal strong vertical gradients in VOC mixing ratios, depending on local meteorology and sources. WASPP has wide applicability for pollution source identification and quantification of hazardous air pollutants and precursors of criteria pollutants, including monitoring O&NG emissions or industry fenceline monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Asher
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
- Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Alan J Hills
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Rebecca S Hornbrook
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Stephen Shertz
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Stephen Gabbard
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Britton B Stephens
- Earth Observing Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Eric C Apel
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
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Gkatzelis GI, Coggon MM, McDonald BC, Peischl J, Gilman JB, Aikin KC, Robinson MA, Canonaco F, Prevot ASH, Trainer M, Warneke C. Observations Confirm that Volatile Chemical Products Are a Major Source of Petrochemical Emissions in U.S. Cities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:4332-4343. [PMID: 33720711 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of declining air pollution, urban U.S. areas are still affected by summertime ozone and wintertime particulate matter exceedance events. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and photochemically produced ozone. Urban VOC emission sources, including on-road transportation emissions, have decreased significantly over the past few decades through successful regulatory measures. These drastic reductions in VOC emissions have led to a change in the distribution of urban emissions and noncombustion sources of VOCs such as those from volatile chemical products (VCPs), which now account for a higher fraction of the urban VOC burden. Given this shift in emission sources, it is essential to quantify the relative contribution of VCP and mobile source emissions to urban pollution. Herein, ground site and mobile laboratory measurements of VOCs were performed. Two ground site locations with different population densities, Boulder, CO, and New York City (NYC), NY, were chosen in order to evaluate the influence of VCPs in cities with varying mixtures of VCPs and mobile source emissions. Positive matrix factorization was used to attribute hundreds of compounds to mobile- and VCP-dominated sources. VCP-dominated emissions contributed to 42 and 78% of anthropogenic VOC emissions for Boulder and NYC, respectively, while mobile source emissions contributed 58 and 22%. Apportioned VOC emissions were compared to those estimated from the Fuel-based Inventory of Vehicle Emissions and VCPs and agreed to within 25% for the bulk comparison and within 30% for more than half of individual compounds. The evaluated inventory was extended to other U.S. cities and it suggests that 50 to 80% of emissions, reactivity, and the SOA-forming potential of urban anthropogenic VOCs are associated with VCP-dominated sources, demonstrating their important role in urban U.S. air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios I Gkatzelis
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Matthew M Coggon
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Brian C McDonald
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jeff Peischl
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jessica B Gilman
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Kenneth C Aikin
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Michael A Robinson
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | | | - Andre S H Prevot
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Michael Trainer
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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37
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Whitworth KW, Bosson-Rieutort D, Wendling G, Liu S, Verner MA. Density and proximity to hydraulic fracturing wells and birth outcomes in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:53-61. [PMID: 32651474 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0245-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulic fracturing, a method used in Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) to extract natural gas, can release contaminants with potential deleterious health effects on fetal development. To date, the association between hydraulic fracturing activity and birth outcomes has not been evaluated in this region. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between the hydraulic fracturing well density/proximity and birth outcomes (birthweight, head circumference, preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA)). METHODS We used birth records from the Fort St John hospital between December 30, 2006 and December 29, 2016 (n = 6333 births). To estimate gestational exposure, we used inverse distance weighting (IDW) to calculate the density/proximity of hydraulic fracturing wells to pregnant women's postal code centroid. For each birth, we calculated three IDWs using 2.5, 5, and 10 km buffer zones around women's postal code centroid. We used linear and logistic regressions to evaluate associations between quartiles of postal code well density/proximity and birth outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS No associations were found between postal code well density/proximity and head circumference or SGA. A negative association was found between postal code well density/proximity and birthweight for infants born to women in the 2nd quartile of the 10 km buffer (β [95% confidence interval (CI)]: -47.28 g [-84.30; -10.25]), and in the 2nd (β [95% CI]: -40.87 g [-78.01; -3.73]) and 3rd (β [95% CI]: -42.01 g [-79.15; -4.87]) quartiles of the 5 km buffer. Increased odds of preterm birth were observed among women in the 2nd quartile of the 2.5 km buffer (odds ratio (OR) [95% CI]: 1.60 [1.30; 2.43]). CONCLUSIONS This is the first epidemiological study in Northeastern British Columbia evaluating associations between hydraulic fracturing and health outcomes. Our results show inconsistent patterns of association between hydraulic fracturing, preterm birth and reduced birthweight, and effect estimates did not match expected dose-response relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, 828 West 10th Avenue, Research Pavilion, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Kristina W Whitworth
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Delphine Bosson-Rieutort
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation (DGEPS), School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 7101 Avenue du Parc, H3N 1×9, Montreal, QC, Canada
- National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESS), Information Management Team, 202 Avenue Union, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gilles Wendling
- GW Solutions, Inc., 201-5180 Dublin Way, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| | - Suyang Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Global Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada
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Gkatzelis GI, Coggon MM, McDonald BC, Peischl J, Aikin KC, Gilman JB, Trainer M, Warneke C. Identifying Volatile Chemical Product Tracer Compounds in U.S. Cities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:188-199. [PMID: 33325693 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
With traffic emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) decreasing rapidly over the last decades, the contributions of the emissions from other source categories, such as volatile chemical products (VCPs), have become more apparent in urban air. In this work, in situ measurements of various VOCs are reported for New York City, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Denver. The magnitude of different emission sources relative to traffic is determined by measuring the urban enhancement of individual compounds relative to the enhancement of benzene, a known tracer of fossil fuel in the United States. The enhancement ratios of several VCP compounds to benzene correlate well with population density (R2 ∼ 0.6-0.8). These observations are consistent with the expectation that some human activity should correlate better with the population density than transportation emissions, due to the lower per capita rate of driving in denser cities. Using these data, together with a bottom-up fuel-based inventory of vehicle emissions and volatile chemical products (FIVE-VCP) inventory, we identify tracer compounds for different VCP categories: decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5-siloxane) for personal care products, monoterpenes for fragrances, p-dichlorobenzene for insecticides, D4-siloxane for adhesives, para-chlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF) for solvent-based coatings, and Texanol for water-based coatings. Furthermore, several other compounds are identified (e.g., ethanol) that correlate with population density and originate from multiple VCP sources. Ethanol and fragrances are among the most abundant and reactive VOCs associated with VCP emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios I Gkatzelis
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Matthew M Coggon
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Brian C McDonald
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Jeff Peischl
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Kenneth C Aikin
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jessica B Gilman
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Michael Trainer
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
| | - Carsten Warneke
- NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Earth System Research Laboratories, 325 Broadway, R/CSL7, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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Abstract
We measured the spatial distribution and composition of ozone-forming hydrocarbons, alcohols, and carbonyls in Utah’s Uinta Basin during the winter months of 2019 and 2020. The Uinta Basin contains about 10,000 producing oil and gas wells. Snow cover and the region’s unique topography (i.e., a large basin entirely surrounded by mountains) promote strong, multi-day temperature inversion episodes that concentrate pollution and lead to wintertime ozone production. Indeed, organic compound concentrations were about eight times higher during inversion episodes than during snow-free springtime conditions. We examined spatial associations between wintertime concentrations of organics and oil and gas sources in the region, and we found that concentrations of highly reactive alkenes were higher in areas with dense oil production than in areas with dense gas production. Total alkene+acetylene concentrations were 267 (42, 1146; lower and upper 95% confidence limits) µg m−3 at locations with 340 or more producing oil wells within 10 km (i.e., 75th percentile) versus 12 (9, 23) µg m−3 at locations with 15 or fewer oil wells (i.e., 25th percentile). Twenty-eight percent of the potential for organic compounds to produce ozone was due to alkenes in areas with dense oil production. Spatial correlations and organic compound ratios indicated that the most likely source of excess alkenes in oil-producing areas was natural gas-fueled engines, especially lean-burning (i.e., high air:fuel ratio) artificial lift engines.
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40
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Xiong Y, Zhou J, Xing Z, Du K. Optimization of a volatile organic compound control strategy in an oil industry center in Canada by evaluating ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation potential. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110217. [PMID: 32971083 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a vital role in the formation of photochemical smog and haze in large urban environments. Previous source apportionment studies have focused on the contribution of different sources to VOC concentration with a view to pinpointing the major culprits for effective emission mitigation. However, different VOC sources may have different ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potentials. From a control perspective, it would be more rational to consider the role of individual VOC sources in secondary pollution; therefore, here, we propose a tiered source identification method that considers the formation potentials of O3 and SOA, which we applied in Calgary, Alberta, a site under the influence of multiple competing VOC sources. The pollution characteristics, secondary pollutant formation potential, and geographical origin of VOC sources were investigated over a five-year period. Seven major sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, among which vehicle exhausts and solid fuel combustion were the dominant VOC sources responsible for O3 (60%) and SOA (63%) formation. Combustion of both liquid fuel (gasoline and diesel) and solid fuel (wood and coal) has exceeded the contribution of oil and gas production and become the top contributor to O3 and aerosol pollution in Calgary. This finding is consistent with the significant reduction (32.2-99.8%) in oil and gas production in Calgary over the period of 2013-2017. The source apportionment results show that the primary VOC source has shifted from conventional oil and gas extraction to a mixture of vehicle exhausts and oil and gas extraction, indicating the effectiveness of emission control measures taken in the energy sectors. Moreover, regionally transported VOCs from combustion sources in southeastern British Columbia have greatly increased the VOC level and secondary pollutant formation in Calgary. To effectively alleviate secondary pollution problems, the performance of joint pollution control measures has been suggested by the governments of both Alberta and British Columbia. These findings reveal that the tiered source identification strategy combining the traditional receptor model with socioeconomic factors, emission inventory, and source region analysis is a robust and promising tool for the interpretation of source apportionment results and optimization of secondary pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jiabin Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Zhenyu Xing
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ke Du
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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41
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Alden CB, Wright RJ, Coburn SC, Caputi D, Wendland G, Rybchuk A, Conley S, Faloona I, Rieker GB. Temporal Variability of Emissions Revealed by Continuous, Long-Term Monitoring of an Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14589-14597. [PMID: 33108176 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Temporal variability contributes to uncertainty in inventories of methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain. Extrapolation of instantaneous, "snapshot-in-time" measurements, for example, can miss temporal intermittency and confound bottom-up/top-down comparisons. Importantly, no continuous long-term datasets record emission variability from underground natural gas storage facilities despite substantial contributions to sector-wide emissions. We present 11 months of continuous observations on a section of a storage site using dual-frequency comb spectroscopy (DCS observing system) and aircraft measurements. We find high emission variability and a skewed distribution in which the 10% highest 3 h emission periods observed by the continuous DCS observing system comprise 41% of the total observed 3-hourly emissions. Monthly emission rates differ by >12×, and 3-hourly rates vary by 17× in 24 h. We find links to the operating phase of the facility-emission rates, including as a percentage of the total gas flow rate, are significantly higher during periods of injection compared to those of withdrawal. We find that if a high frequency of aircraft flights can occur, then the ground- and aircraft-based approaches show excellent agreement in emission distributions. A better understanding of emission variability at underground natural gas storage sites will improve inventories and models of methane emissions and clarify pathways toward mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline B Alden
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Robbie J Wright
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Sean C Coburn
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Dani Caputi
- University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Griffith Wendland
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Alex Rybchuk
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Stephen Conley
- Scientific Aviation, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States
| | - Ian Faloona
- University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Gregory B Rieker
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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Evaluation of Pollutant Emissions into the Atmosphere during the Loading of Hydrocarbons in Marine Oil Tankers in the Arctic Region. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse8110917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Emissions of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere when loading oil or petroleum products into tankers are strong environmental pollutants. Given the increase in oil transport by sea and the development of Arctic routes, humanity faces the task of preserving the Arctic ecosystem. Vapor recovery units can limit the emissions of volatile organic compounds. However, it is necessary to estimate the emissions of oil and petroleum products vapors. This article offers two methods for estimating emissions of volatile organic compounds. In the analytical method, a mathematical model of evaporation dynamics and forecasting tank gas space pressure of the tanker is proposed. The model makes it possible to estimate the throughput capacity of existing gas phase discharge pipeline systems and is also suitable for designing new oil vapor recovery units. Creating an experimental laboratory stand is proposed in the experimental method, and its possible technological scheme is developed.
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43
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Pozzer A, Schultz MG, Helmig D. Impact of U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Emission Increases on Surface Ozone Is Most Pronounced in the Central United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:12423-12433. [PMID: 32902267 PMCID: PMC7547866 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Observations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a surface sampling network and simulation results from the EMAC (ECHAM5/MESSy for Atmospheric Chemistry) model were analyzed to assess the impact of increased emissions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides from U.S. oil and natural gas (O&NG) sources on air quality. In the first step, the VOC observations were used to optimize the magnitude and distribution of atmospheric ethane and higher-alkane VOC emissions in the model inventory for the base year 2009. Observation-based increases of the emissions of VOCs and NOx stemming from U.S. oil and natural gas (O&NG) sources during 2009-2014 were then added to the model, and a set of sensitivity runs was conducted for assessing the influence of the increased emissions on summer surface ozone levels. For the year 2014, the added O&NG emissions are predicted to affect surface ozone across a large geographical scale in the United States. These emissions are responsible for an increased number of days when the averaged 8-h ozone values exceed 70 ppb, with the highest sensitivity being in the central and midwestern United States, where most of the O&NG growth has occurred. These findings demonstrate that O&NG emissions significantly affect the air quality across most of the United States, can regionally offset reductions of ozone precursor emissions made in other sectors, and can have a determining influence on a region's ability to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) obligations for ozone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pozzer
- Max
Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Martin G. Schultz
- Jülich
Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum
Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Street, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Detlev Helmig
- Institute
of Arctic and Alpine Research, University
of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
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44
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Li HZ, Reeder MD, Pekney NJ. Quantifying source contributions of volatile organic compounds under hydraulic fracking moratorium. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 732:139322. [PMID: 32438153 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are precursors for ozone (O3) and secondary particulate matter, which contribute to asthma and cardiovascular diseases. With the technology development of hydraulic fracking, the United States experienced a shale gas boom in the last decade while the public raised concerns about the potential health impacts of co-emitted VOCs and other airborne pollutants. National Energy Technology Laboratory conducted stationary trailer-based ambient monitoring to study the sources of VOCs in Maryland, where the state enacted a moratorium on unconventional natural gas extraction. The campaign had two periods, May to August 2014 (summer) and November 2014 to February 2015 (winter). Ethane was the most abundant VOC, averaging 12.3 ppb (SD = 15.7 ppb) in summer and 21.7 ppb (SD = 21.6 ppb) in winter. The seasonal variation of VOCs indicated different source strengths. The sampling region was in the nitrogen oxides (NOx) limited regime for O3 production, and the O3 concentrations were sensitive to VOC/NOx ratios in the early mornings. We derived a six-factor profile using positive matrix factorization: motor vehicles, industrial, biogenics, coal burning, fugitive and evaporative, and ozone secondary. The fugitive and evaporative factor explained 44.5% of total VOCs, and the motor vehicles factor followed second with 15.5%. Oil and gas activities had a considerable impact on the abundance of VOCs in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Z Li
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA.
| | - Matthew D Reeder
- Leidos, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
| | - Natalie J Pekney
- U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
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45
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Rajabi H, Hadi Mosleh M, Mandal P, Lea-Langton A, Sedighi M. Emissions of volatile organic compounds from crude oil processing - Global emission inventory and environmental release. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 727:138654. [PMID: 32498184 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Airborne Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to have strong and adverse impacts on human health and the environment by contributing to the formation of tropospheric ozone. VOCs can escape during various stages of crude oil processing, from extraction to refinery, hence the crude oil industry is recognised as one of the major sources of VOC release into the environment. In the last few decades, volatile emissions from crude oil have been investigated either directly by means of laboratory and field-based analyses, or indirectly via emission inventories (EIs) which have been used to develop regulatory and controlling measures in the petroleum industry. There is a vast amount of scattered data in the literature for both regional emissions from crude oil processing and scientific measurements of VOC releases. This paper aims to provide a critical analysis of the overall scale of global emissions of VOCs from all stages of oil processing based on data reported in the literature. The volatile compounds, identified via EIs of the crude oil industry or through direct emissions from oil mass, are collected and analysed to present a global-scale evaluation of type, average concentration and detection frequency of the most prevalent VOCs. We provide a critical analysis on the total averages of VOCs and key pieces of evidence which highlights the necessity of implementing control measures to regulate crude oil volatile emissions (CVEs) in primary steps of extraction-to-refinery pathways of crude oil processing. We have identified knowledge gaps in this field which are of importance to control the release of VOCs from crude oil, independent of oil type, location, operating conditions and metrological parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Rajabi
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Mojgan Hadi Mosleh
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Parthasarathi Mandal
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Amanda Lea-Langton
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Majid Sedighi
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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46
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Huang X, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Ou Y, Chen D, Pei C, Huang Z, Zhang Z, Liu T, Luo S, Huang X, Song W, Ding X, Shao M, Zou S, Wang X. Evaluating the effectiveness of multiple emission control measures on reducing volatile organic compounds in ambient air based on observational data: A case study during the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 723:138171. [PMID: 32392684 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a crucial role in modulating air pollution by ozone and fine particles, particularly in urban areas. While in recent years short-term intervention actions for better air quality during big events in China did present good opportunities to examine the effectiveness of control measures in reducing anthropogenic VOCs emission, it is highly challenging to interpret the real effect of a specific control measure based on field monitoring data when a cocktail of control measures were adopted. Here we took the air quality intervention actions during the 16th Asian Games (AG) in Guangzhou as a case study to explore the impact of short-term multiple measures on VOCs reduction. The average mass concentrations of VOCs decreased by 52-68% during the AG. These percentages could not reflect emission reduction rates as the concentration might be also heavily impacted by dispersion conditions. Diagnostic ratios, such as methyl tert-butyl ether to carbon monoxide (MTBE/CO) and i-pentane/CO, decreased by over 60% during the AG, suggesting a substantial reduction in gasoline related emissions. A method linking emission reduction rates of two sources with their contribution percentages before and during the AG by using a receptor model was further formulated. With the available reduction rate of 34% for vehicular exhaust obtained during the traffic restriction drill in our previous study, VOCs emissions from gasoline evaporation and solvent use reduced by 45.7% and 13.6% during the AG, respectively. Total VOCs emissions decreased by 25.3% on average during the AG, and the emission control of vehicular exhaust, oil evaporation, and solvent use accounted for 17.0%, 6.3% and 2.0% of total VOCs emission reduction, respectively. This study presented an observed-based method with diagnostic/quantitative approaches to single out the effectiveness of each control measures in reducing VOCs emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Huang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yanli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Yujun Wang
- Guangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510030, China
| | - Yubo Ou
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Duohong Chen
- Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Chenglei Pei
- Guangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510030, China
| | - Zuzhao Huang
- Guangzhou Environmental Technology Center, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Zhou Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Tengyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Shilu Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoqing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Song
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Min Shao
- Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Shichun Zou
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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47
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Xiong Y, Du K. Source-resolved attribution of ground-level ozone formation potential from VOC emissions in Metropolitan Vancouver, BC. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137698. [PMID: 32169644 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The common regulatory approach for managing ground-level ozone (O3) formation is based upon reducing the emission of total VOC in VOC limited regions, and the emission of NOx in NOx limited regions. However, the characteristic VOC species emitted from different sources are of different ozone formation potentials (OFP). Without an in-depth understanding of the relative OFP contributions from specific sources, the effectiveness of the existing approach for controlling ground-level O3 at the regional scale is limited. This study collected and analyzed five years (2012-2016) of monitoring data for 56 most photochemically reactive VOC species at Port Moody, an industrial city in Metro Vancouver, Canada that has experienced elevated O3 levels in its ambience. Source-specific contributions to OFP were quantified for major VOC emitters to deliberate the underlying causes of elevated O3 recently observed in this populated region. Six sources were identified using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, consisting of fuel production and combustion, fuel evaporation, vehicle exhaust, industrial coatings/solvents, petrochemical source, and other industrial emission. Although the top three contributors to total VOCs are fuel production and combustion (34.5%), fuel evaporation (21.4%), and vehicle exhaust (20.6%), the top three contributors to OFP are fuel production and combustion (27.1%), vehicle exhaust (23.7%), and industrial coatings/solvents (17.2%). Additionally, potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis was conducted to generate the geographical distribution of VOC and OFP sources in different seasons. The results revealed that, in the Metro Vancouver area, the OFP hotspots have been significantly different from the VOC emission hotspots. In general, regional sources, especially those located in the northeastern direction of Metro Vancouver, have greater influence on the VOCs levels. However, OFP has been predominantly affected by transportation and industrial sources at the local scale. Therefore, to formulate effective strategies for reducing ground-level O3, the seasonal and spatial variations of major OFP sources should be assessed by the regulatory authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Ke Du
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada.
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48
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Song J, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yuan Q, Zhao Y, Wang X, Zou S, Xu W, Lai S. A case study on the characterization of non-methane hydrocarbons over the South China Sea: Implication of land-sea air exchange. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 717:134754. [PMID: 31837869 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present the characteristics of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) over the northern South China Sea (SCS) during a cruise campaign from September to October 2013. The mixing ratios of the total NMHCs ranged from 1.45 to 7.13 ppbv with an average of 3.54 ± 1.81 ppbv. Among the measured NMHCs, alkanes and aromatics were the major groups, accounting for 45.8 ± 8.7% and 28.7 ± 12.3% of the total NMHCs, respectively. Correlations of NMHCs with typical source tracers suggest that light alkanes and benzene were largely contributed by vehicular exhaust via long-range transport, while the other aromatics might be related to industrial sources and marine ship emissions. The spatial variations of NMHCs were observed with higher mixing ratios of NMHCs in the samples collected in the offshore areas than those in the coastal areas. Air mass back-trajectory analysis and diagnostic ratios of NMHCs show that the elevations of the total NMHCs were caused by the regional pollution transport from the southeast coast of China and/or southern China. The ozone formation potentials (OFPs) of NMHCs were calculated and the results show that the aromatics associated with marine ship emissions were the important contributors to the total OFP. This study provides useful information on the interaction between continental outflow and marine atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Song
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yanli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Yuan
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shichun Zou
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weihai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Senchao Lai
- The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Wollin KM, Damm G, Foth H, Freyberger A, Gebel T, Mangerich A, Gundert-Remy U, Partosch F, Röhl C, Schupp T, Hengstler JG. Critical evaluation of human health risks due to hydraulic fracturing in natural gas and petroleum production. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:967-1016. [PMID: 32385535 PMCID: PMC7225182 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02758-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The use of hydraulic fracturing (HF) to extract oil and natural gas has increased, along with intensive discussions on the associated risks to human health. Three technical processes should be differentiated when evaluating human health risks, namely (1) drilling of the borehole, (2) hydraulic stimulation, and (3) gas or oil production. During the drilling phase, emissions such as NOx, NMVOCs (non-methane volatile organic compounds) as precursors for tropospheric ozone formation, and SOx have been shown to be higher compared to the subsequent phases. In relation to hydraulic stimulation, the toxicity of frac fluids is of relevance. More than 1100 compounds have been identified as components. A trend is to use fewer, less hazardous and more biodegradable substances; however, the use of hydrocarbons, such as kerosene and diesel, is still allowed in the USA. Methane in drinking water is of low toxicological relevance but may indicate inadequate integrity of the gas well. There is a great concern regarding the contamination of ground- and surface water during the production phase. Water that flows to the surface from oil and gas wells, so-called 'produced water', represents a mixture of flow-back, the injected frac fluid returning to the surface, and the reservoir water present in natural oil and gas deposits. Among numerous hazardous compounds, produced water may contain bromide, arsenic, strontium, mercury, barium, radioactive isotopes and organic compounds, particularly benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX). The sewage outflow, even from specialized treatment plants, may still contain critical concentrations of barium, strontium and arsenic. Evidence suggests that the quality of groundwater and surface water may be compromised by disposal of produced water. Particularly critical is the use of produced water for watering of agricultural areas, where persistent compounds may accumulate. Air contamination can occur as a result of several HF-associated activities. In addition to BTEX, 20 HF-associated air contaminants are group 1A or 1B carcinogens according to the IARC. In the U.S., oil and gas production (including conventional production) represents the second largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions. High-quality epidemiological studies are required, especially in light of recent observations of an association between childhood leukemia and multiple myeloma in the neighborhood of oil and gas production sites. In conclusion, (1) strong evidence supports the conclusion that frac fluids can lead to local environmental contamination; (2) while changes in the chemical composition of soil, water and air are likely to occur, the increased levels are still often below threshold values for safety; (3) point source pollution due to poor maintenance of wells and pipelines can be monitored and remedied; (4) risk assessment should be based on both hazard and exposure evaluation; (5) while the concentrations of frac fluid chemicals are low, some are known carcinogens; therefore, thorough, well-designed studies are needed to assess the risk to human health with high certainty; (6) HF can represent a health risk via long-lasting contamination of soil and water, when strict safety measures are not rigorously applied.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - G Damm
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - H Foth
- Institute of Environmental Toxicology, University of Halle, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - A Freyberger
- Research and Development, Translational Sciences-Toxicology, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - T Gebel
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dortmund, Germany
| | - A Mangerich
- Molecular Toxicology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - U Gundert-Remy
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Partosch
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - C Röhl
- Department of Environmental Health Protection, Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Social Services, Kiel, Germany
| | - T Schupp
- Chemical Engineering, University of Applied Science Muenster, Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), University of Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
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Optimization of a Method for the Detection of Biomass-Burning Relevant VOCs in Urban Areas Using Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11030276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Forest fire smoke influence in urban areas is relatively easy to detect at high concentrations but more challenging to detect at low concentrations. In this study, we present a simplified method that can reliably quantify smoke tracers in an urban environment at relatively low cost and complexity. For this purpose, we used dual-bed thermal desorption tubes with an auto-sampler to collect continuous samples of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We present the validation and evaluation of this approach using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) to detect VOCs at ppt to ppb concentrations. To evaluate the method, we tested stability during storage, interferences (e.g., water and O3), and reproducibility for reactive and short-lived VOCs such as acetonitrile (a specific chemical tracer for biomass burning), acetone, n-pentane, isopentane, benzene, toluene, furan, acrolein, 2-butanone, 2,3-butanedione, methacrolein, 2,5- dimethylfuran, and furfural. The results demonstrate that these VOCs can be quantified reproducibly with a total uncertainty of ≤30% between the collection and analysis, and with storage times of up to 15 days. Calibration experiments performed over a dynamic range of 10–150 ng loaded on to each thermal desorption tube at different relative humidity showed excellent linearity (r2 ≥ 0.90). We utilized this method during the summer 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments Experiment–Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) intensive experiment at the Boise ground site. The results of this field study demonstrate the method’s applicability for ambient VOC speciation to identify forest fire smoke in urban areas.
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