The Plume Volume Molar Ratio Method for Determining NO2/NOx Ratios in Modeling—Part II: Evaluation Studies

ABSTRACT

A previous paper¹ discusses the methodology for a new method for deriving the nitrogen dioxide/nitrogen oxide (NO₂/NO_x) ratio in plumes that originally are composed mainly of (NO_x). It is called the Plume Volume Molar Ratio Method (PVMRM). This paper documents its performance against six different data sets. These performance evaluations show that the PVMRM can realistically predict the NO₂ fraction at close-in receptors yet still provide conservative estimates so that the air quality standards can be protected.     

Formaldehyde Concentrations in Wisconsin Mobile Homes

Mobile homes utilize a class of prefabricate construction techniques which rely greatly upon the use of particle board and hardwood plywood paneling for structural components. This has resulted In household sources which may emit formaldehyde into the home, since urea-formaldehyde resins are used as the bonding agent in most pressed wood stocks. A series of 137 mobile home households was investigated to determine indoor formaldehyde exposure concentrations. Homes were selected based on the estimated age of the construction components. Homes were studied serially for a nine-month period, with formaldehyde samples obtained on a monthly basis using a modified NIOSH chromotropic acid procedure. Formaldehyde concentrations were found to range from less than 0.10 ppm to 2.84 ppm. The median exposure concentration was 0.39 ppm. Analysis of variance was performed on each home to discern visit and room measurement effects. Eighty-nine percent of the homes exhibited no measurement placement effects, while only 10 percent failed to demonstrate between-visit variance effects. Regression models were constructed to predict household formaldehyde concentrations. Concentrations exhibited an inverse relationship with the age of the construction materials. A weighted least squares regression model of log of home age predicting temperature-corrected log formaldehyde explained 82 percent of the formaldehyde variation.     

The Plume Volume Molar Ratio Method for Determining NO2/NOx Ratios in Modeling—Part I: Methodology

ABSTRACT

During New Source Review modeling of proposed major sources of oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), maximum impacts are often predicted to occur very close to the source. At the same time, current modeling guidance recommends techniques that may be overly conservative in estimating the fraction of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in these plumes. A new technique called the Plume Volume Molar Ratio Method (PVMRM) is being proposed that simulates both chemistry and dispersion to better estimate the fraction of NO₂. This paper documents the methodology behind the technique. A follow-up pa-per¹ will evaluate its performance against a number of databases. This method is designed to realistically predict NO₂ fraction at close-in receptors yet still provide conservative estimates so that the air quality standards can be protected.     

Rapid assessment of environmental health risks posed by mining operations in low- and middle-income countries: selected case studies

Previous studies have evaluated associated health risks and human exposure pathways at mining sites. Others have provided estimates of the scale of the issue based in part on surveys. However, a global census of mining-related hazardous waste sites has been lacking. The Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) implemented by Blacksmith Institute (New York, NY, USA) since 2009 is an ongoing effort to catalogue a wide range of chemically contaminated sites with a potential human health risk (Ericson et al., Environ Monit Assess doi:10.1007/s 10661-012-2665-2, 2012). The TSIP utilizes a rapid assessment instrument, the Initial Site Screening (ISS), to quickly and affordably identify key site criteria including human exposure pathways, estimated populations at risk, and sampling information. The resulting ISS allows for comparison between sites exhibiting different contaminants and pollution sources. This paper explores the results of a subset of ISSs completed at 131 artisanal and small-scale gold mining areas and 275 industrial mining and ore processing sites in 45 countries. The authors show that the ISS captures key data points, allowing for prioritization of sites for further investigation or remedial activity.     

Automated Chemical Mass Balance Receptor Modeling

Abstract

A nontrivial portion of heavy-duty vehicle emissions of NO_x and particulate matter (PM) occurs during idling. Regulators and the environmental community are interested in curtailing truck idling emissions, but current emissions models do not characterize them accurately, and little quantitative data exist to evaluate the relative effectiveness of various policies. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of accessory loading and engine speed on idling emissions from a properly functioning, modern, heavy-duty diesel truck and to compare these results with data from earlier model year vehicles. It was found that emissions during idling varied greatly as a function of engine model year, engine speed, and accessory load conditions. For the 1999 model year Class 8 truck tested, raising the engine speed from 600 to 1050 rpm and turning on the air conditioning resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in NO_x emissions in grams per hour, a 2-fold increase in CO₂ emissions, and a 5-fold increase in CO emissions while idling. On a grams per gallon fuel basis, NO_x emissions while idling were approximately twice as high as those at 55 mph. The CO₂ emissions at the two conditions were closer. The NO_x emissions from the 1999 truck while idling with air conditioning running were slightly more than those of two 1990 model year trucks under equivalent conditions, and the hydrocarbon (HC) and CO emissions were significantly lower. It was found that the NO_x emissions used in the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) EMFAC2000 and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) MOBILE5b emissions inventory models were lower than those measured in all of the idling conditions tested on the 1999 truck.     

Phosphorus loading in the Frome catchment, UK: seasonal refinement of the coefficient modeling approach

This paper describes the results of an export coefficient modeling approach to predict total phosphorus (TP) loading in the Frome catchment, Dorset, UK from point and diffuse sources on a seasonal (monthly) basis in 1998 and on an annual basis for 1990-1998. The model predicted an annual TP load of 25 605 kg yr(-1), compared with an observed (measured) value of 23400 kg yr(-1). Monthly loads calculated using the export coefficient model agreed well with monthly observed values except in months of variable discharge, when observed values were low, probably due to infrequent, and therefore unrepresentative, sampling. Comparison between filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP) and TP concentrations observed in the period 1990-1997 showed that trends in FRP could be estimated from trends in TP. A sensitivity analysis (varying individual export coefficients by +/-10%) showed that sewage treatment works (STWs) (3.5%), tilled land (2.7%), meadow-verge-seminatural (1.0%), and mown and grazed turf (0.6%) had the most significant effect (percent difference from base contribution) on model prediction. The model was also used to estimate the effect of phosphorus stripping at STWs in order to comply with a pending change in the European Union wastewater directive. Theoretical reduction of TP from the largest STW in the catchment gave a predicted reduction in TP loading of 2174 kg yr(-1). This illustrates the value of this seasonal export coefficient model as a practical management tool.     

Comparison of the chromotropic acid and modified pararosaniline methods for the determination of formaldehyde in air

Follow-up tests were performed in 25 complaint homes previously investigated by the Wisconsin Division of Health to determine ambient formaldehyde concentrations. Four collection methods were compared in each home: (1) midget impingers containing double-distilled water and immersed in ice baths, (2) midget impingers containing 1% sodium bisulfite solution and immersed in ice baths, (3) midget impingers containing cold 1% sodium bisulfite solution (temperature not maintained with an ice bath), and (4) a refrigerated, complete sampling unit developed at Lawrence Berkley Laboratory which utilized double-distilled water as a collection medium. Air was drawn through the midget impingers using personal sampling pumps. All four types of sampling trains were operated simultaneously in a bedroom, collecting specimens within an area of about 4 ft², while in the kitchen or living room, all sampling trains except for the impingers containing 1% sodium bisulfite solution and immersed in ice baths were operated together. Analysis of variance indicated that the three samples collected using midget impingers and personal sampling pumps gave similar results. All specimens collected in water were analyzed using both the chromotropic acid and pararosaniline analytical methods. Quality control specimens prepared in the laboratory showed excellent agreement between the two methods; however, field specimens through which air had been drawn were assigned lower values using the pararosaniline method. Special precautions were taken to ensure that specimens collected in water were not contaminated with sodium bisulfite, a serious interference for the pararosaniline test. To rule out the possibility that specimens deteriorated between analysis, test results from each method were confirmed by repeating each method for selected sets of specimens for a period of several days. It was hypothesized that some source of interference was present in the field specimens which affected the pararosaniline analysis. Statistical tests were applied to determine whether the observed discrepancy between the analytical methods was consistent and a regression model was employed to determine whether any of the other environmental parameters measured during sample collection was associated with the discrepancy.     

Electrochemical sensors for environmental monitoring: design, development and applications

The advancement in miniaturization and microfabrication technology has led to the development of sensitive and selective electrochemical devices for field-based and in situ environmental monitoring. Electrochemical sensing devices have a major impact upon the monitoring of priority pollutants by allowing the instrument to be taken to the sample (rather than the traditional way of bringing the sample to the laboratory). Such devices can perform automated chemical analyses in complex matrices and provide rapid, reliable and inexpensive measurements of a variety of inorganic and organic pollutants. Although not exhaustive due to the vast amounts of new and exciting electrochemical research, this review addresses many important advances in electrochemical sensor design and development for environmental monitoring purposes. Critical design factors and development issues including analytical improvements (e.g. detection limits), microfabrication and remote communication are presented. In addition, modern environmental applications will be discussed and future perspectives considered.     

Porous silica spheres as indoor air pollutant scavengers

Porous silica spheres were investigated for their effectiveness in removing typical indoor air pollutants, such as aromatic and carbonyl-containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and compared to the commercially available polymer styrene-divinylbenzene (XAD-4). The silica spheres and the XAD-4 resin were coated on denuder sampling devices and their adsorption efficiencies for VOCs evaluated using an indoor air simulation chamber. Real indoor sampling was also undertaken to evaluate the affinity of the silica adsorbents for a variety of indoor VOCs. The silica sphere adsorbents were found to have a high affinity for polar carbonyls and found to be more efficient than the XAD-4 resin at adsorbing carbonyls in an indoor environment.