Summary of the 1989 EPA/A&WMA International Symposium: Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollutants

A joint conference, for the fourth straight year cosponsored by the Air & Waste Management Association’s TP-6, TP-7, and ITF-2 technical committees, and the Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, was held at Raleigh, North Carolina, May 2-5, 1989. The technical program consisted of 145 presentations, held in 14 separate technical sessions, on recent advances in the measurement and monitoring of toxic and related pollutants found in ambient and source atmospheres. Covering a wide range of measurement topics and superbly supported by 57 exhibitors of instrumentation and consulting services, the symposium was enthusiastically received by more than 700 attendees from the United States and other countries. This overview contains a selection of the highlights from the technical presentations. A synopsis of the keynote address to the symposium is also included.     

Summary of the 1991 EPA/A&WMA International Symposium: Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollutants

A joint conference cosponsored for the sixth year by the Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory (AREAL) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Air & Waste Management Association was held in Durham, North Carolina, May 6–10, 1991. The technical program consisted of 220 presentations, held in 25 technical sessions, on recent advances in ambient and source atmospheres. Covering a wide range of measurement topics and supported by 78 exhibitors of instrumentation and consulting services, the symposium was attended by almost a thousand professionals from the United States and other countries. This overview highlights a selection of the technical presentations, and includes a synopsis of the keynote address.     

Analysis of Complex Mixtures of Vapors in Ambient Air by Fast-Gas Chromatography

An international specialty conference cosponsored by the Air & Waste Management Association's New England Section and the WF-2, EE-5 and EP-1 technical committees was held in Boston, Massachusetts on November 7-9, 1990. The technical program consisted of 39 presentations, held in eight technical sessions, exploring a wide range of topics related to the development of cleanup criteria for contaminated soil and groundwater. Supported by 11 exhibitors, the conference was attended by more than 350 professionals from the United States and other countries. This overview by the Technical Program Chair highlights a selection of the technical presentations.     

How clean is clean? Cleanup criteria for contaminated soil and groundwater.

An international specialty conference cosponsored by the Air & Waste Management Association's New England Section and the WF-2, EE-5 and EP-1 technical committees was held in Boston, Massachusetts on November 7-9, 1990. The technical program consisted of 39 presentations, held in eight technical sessions, exploring a wide range of topics related to the development of cleanup criteria for contaminated soil and groundwater. Supported by 11 exhibitors, the conference was attended by more than 350 professionals from the United States and other countries. This overview by the Technical Program Chair highlights a selection of the technical presentations.     

The Location of Maximum Exposure Due to An Instantaneous Release from a Point Source

An international specialty conference, jointly sponsored by the Air &; Waste Management Association (A&;WMA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), entitled “PM₁₀ Standards and Nontraditional Particulate Source Controls,” was held in Scottsdale, Arizona, January 12-15, 1992. The conference included 92 presentations in 17 technical sessions. Eighty-one peer-reviewed technical papers, two keynote addresses and one panel session summary describing novel applications, measurement processes, modeling techniques and control measures for nontraditional pollution sources are assembled in the Transactions¹. The technical issues addressed during the conference included: (1) measurement methods and data bases; (2) emissions source characterization; (3) source apportionment of nontraditional sources; (4) fugitive dust characterization and control technologies; (5) vegetative burning characterization and control technologies; (6) sources and controls of secondary aerosol and motor vehicle precursors; and (7) regulatory policies and State Implementation Plan (SIP) development. This paper gives an overview of the technical program     

A Specialty Conference Summary

The Lake Michigan States Section hosted an International Specialty Conference in Chicago during March 22-24, 1983. Jointly sponsored by APCA's TP-6, TP-7, TP-9 and TT-5 Technical Committees, the technical program consisted of 49 presentations over 10 separate technical sessions. Covering a diverse range of air toxicant measurement issues, and superbly supported by the excellent instrumentation exhibit, the conference was enthusiastically received by nearly 200 attendees. General Chairmen of the conference were Frank Werderitsch, Material Service Corporation, Lyons, Illinois, and Jay Norco, ETA Engineering, Inc., Westmont Illinois.

This overview contains a selection of the highlights from the technical presentations. Of particular interest were the invited presentations of key government and industry representatives who outlined their respective activities and approaches related to toxic air contaminants. A synopsis of those government and industry remarks are also contained herein.     

Regional Photochemical Measurement and Modeling Studies: A Summary of the Air & Waste Management Association International Specialty Conference

Abstract

This paper summarizes the Air & Waste Management Association’s International Specialty Conference, "Regional Photochemical Measurement and Modeling Studies," held in San Diego, California, on November 8-12,1993. The purpose of the conference was to facilitate exchange of information and to initiate better communication and interaction among scientists, air quality managers, regulators, and others involved in or applying tools (models and measurements to support the modeling efforts) that can be used to develop equitable and effective emissions management practices for attainment of ozone standards. Attendees heard more than 350 presentations from authors representing nearly 30 air quality and meteorological measurement and modeling studies from 18 countries. While the primary emphasis of the conference was technical, two policy sessions were included (Plenary and Concluding Sessions) to place the technical results in perspective with the policy issues. The technical agenda was divided into three subjects: Analysis of Field Measurements (results and interpretation), Modeling (status and results), and Other Topics. Papers presented at the conference are being published in a variety of journals or books to meet the needs of the scientific and policy communities. A complete bibliographical listing of the papers presented at the conference is included with this paper.

An unexpected outcome of the conference has been the development of an initiative for continuing the intercomparison of goals and scientific findings from regional air quality studies in Europe and North America, entitled “Regional Oxidants Programs Intercomparison” (ROxPIn). This paper will also discuss the goals and objectives of ROxPIn.     

The World Needs a New Energy Paradigm

During 19–20 October 2009, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences arranged the international symposium Energy 2050 in Stockholm. The symposium was held in association with the Swedish EU presidency in autumn 2009. Internationally renowned scientists assessed the energy issue in a broad perspective, with particular emphasis on the possibilities of a fossil-free future. The symposium focused on key topics emanating from the in-depth energy studies carried through by the Academy´s Energy Committee since 2005. The world community is facing a challenge of historic proportions to define a new energy paradigm based on fossil-energy substitutes. This article gives an overview of the current global energy situation (2007) and of the technologies which have the major potential for supplying energy up to year 2050 without jeopardizing the CO₂ emission targets.     

Summary of the 1991 EPRI/EPA/DOE SO2 Control Symposium

The 1991 SO₂ Control Symposium was held December 3-6, 1991, in Washington, D.C. The symposium, jointly sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), focused attention on recent improvements in conventional sulfur dioxide (SO₂) control technologies, emerging processes, and strategies for complying with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Its purpose was to provide a forum for the exchange of technical and regulatory information on SO₂ control technology. Over 800 representatives of 20 countries from government, academia, flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process suppliers, equipment manufacturers, engineering firms, and utilities attended. In all, 50 U.S. utilities and 10 utilities in other countries were represented. In 11 technical sessions, a diverse group of speakers presented 111 technical papers on development, operation, and commercialization of wet and dry FGD, Clean Coal Technologies, and combined sulfur dioxide/nitrogen oxides (SO₂/NO_x processes.     

Future agriculture with minimized phosphorus losses to waters: Research needs and direction

The series of papers in this issue of AMBIO represent technical presentations made at the 7th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW7), held in September, 2013 in Uppsala, Sweden. At that meeting, the 150 delegates were involved in round table discussions on major, predetermined themes facing the management of agricultural phosphorus (P) for optimum production goals with minimal water quality impairment. The six themes were (1) P management in a changing world; (2) transport pathways of P from soil to water; (3) monitoring, modeling, and communication; (4) importance of manure and agricultural production systems for P management; (5) identification of appropriate mitigation measures for reduction of P loss; and (6) implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce P loss. This paper details the major challenges and research needs that were identified for each theme and identifies a future roadmap for catchment management that cost-effectively minimizes P loss from agricultural activities.     

Stationary Combustion NOX Control A Summary of the 1989 Symposium

This paper summarizes information and results presented at the 1989 Symposium on Stationary Combustion NOX Control, held March 6-9, 1989 in San Francisco. Cosponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) the symposium was the fifth in a biennial series.     

A Special Issue from the NARSTO Symposium on Tropospheric Aerosols

This dedicated issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association contains nine peer-reviewed scientific papers that were presented at the NARSTO Symposium on Tropospheric Aerosols: Science and Decisions in an International Community, held October 24-26, 2000, in Querétaro, Mexico.¹ Other peer-reviewed papers^2-9 appear in a companion issue of Science of the Total Environment to be published in February 2002. More than 130 papers were presented in platform and poster sessions at the meeting. Approximately 28% of the technical presentations dealt with topics from Mexico, and 15% related to Canada, with the remainder discussing U.S. and global topics.     

Renewable Energy

The Energy Committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has in a series of projects gathered information and knowledge on renewable energy from various sources, both within and outside the academic world. In this article, we synthesize and summarize some of the main points on renewable energy from the various Energy Committee projects and the Committee’s Energy 2050 symposium, regarding energy from water and wind, bioenergy, and solar energy. We further summarize the Energy Committee’s scenario estimates of future renewable energy contributions to the global energy system, and other presentations given at the Energy 2050 symposium. In general, international coordination and investment in energy research and development is crucial to enable future reliance on renewable energy sources with minimal fossil fuel use.     

National Emission Standards Introduction

A feature of the 63rd annual meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, held June 14–18, 1970 in St. Louis, was a plenary session on national emission standards. Presided over by John S. Lagarias, APCA past president, the session explored the theme for both motor vehicles and stationary sources through the presentations of Delbert S. Barth and Arthur C. Stern and the discussions of John A. Maga and Robert L. Harris, Jr. The essence of their remarks appears on the following pages.     

1987 Joint EPRI/EPA Symposium on Stationary Combustion NOX Control

From March 23rd to 26th, 1987, the city of New Orleans hosted 350 attendees, including representatives from 15 foreign countries, at the 1987 Joint Symposium on Stationary Combustion NO_x Control. Cosponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the symposium provided attendees the opportunity to hear 49 papers in nine sessions covering technological and regulatory developments on NO_x control in the United States and abroad since the May 1985 symposium in Boston. Session topics included general environmental issues, low-NO_x combustion equipment (i.e., low-NO_x burners, reburning, etc.), flue gas treatment, fundamental combustion research, and special issues for cyclone coal-fueled boilers, oil- and gas-fired boilers, and industrial combustion applications.

Advances to the state-of-the-art presented at this symposium include: improved and/or newly applied combustion modifications for pulverized coal-fired boilers; further analyses of reburning, the leading combustion modification option for cyclone-equipped boilers; initial experiences with catalytic flue gas treatment in Europe; studies of NO_x control retrofit options for oil- and gas-fired utility systems; and new technology developments for coal, oil, and gas fueled utility and industrial combustors.

This paper summarizes those presentations that discussed significant changes since May 1985 in areas of potential interest to EPRI and its utility members. Where appropriate, they include our perspectives on the applicability of these newly disclosed findings to utility systems.     

The Second Reagan Administration and the New Congress: Critical Clean Air and Hazardous Waste Issues

The 13th Government Affairs Seminar of the Air Pollution Control Association was held March 20-21, 1985 in Washington, D.C. The Seminar, held annually, has earned international attention as a forum for dialogue on federal environmental legislation. Keynote speaker for the 1985 Seminar was Senator John Chafee (R.-R.L), chairman of the Subcommittee on Environmental Pollution of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Joseph Cannon, former U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation gave the luncheon address. (See News Focus in the May 1985 issue of JAPCA, page 570, for a report on these and other presentations.) The present report contains the remarks presented and subsequently submitted for publication by the panelists listed below.     

Epa’s Catalyst Research Program: Environmental Impact of Sulfuric Acid Emissions

A sulfuric acid review conference sponsored by EPA's automotive Catalyst Research Program was held recently at Hendersonville, NC, for researchers whose work is funded by EPA. Emissions characterization research indicated that in-use catalyst-equipped vehicles emit low levels of H2SO4, averaging 2.7 mg/mile for 49-state cars and 15 mg/mile for California cars. Research on measurement methodology for H2SO4 and other sulfate compounds has led to the development of several promising techniques based on selective volatilization. In-roadway and off-roadway monitoring programs are providing sulfate data which can lead to improved mathematical predictive models. Acute toxicity studies to date indicate that morphological, biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological alterations due to inhaled H2SO4 alone do not appear to occur at levels less than 1 mg/m³. However, striking effects are noted with combinations of H2SO4 and other pollutants. Participants identified the need for long term chronic H2SO4 exposure studies.     

Real-world vehicle emissions: a summary of the Sixteenth Coordinating Research Council On-Road Vehicle Emissions Workshop

The Coordinating Research Council held its 16th workshop in March 2006, with 83 presentations describing the most recent mobile source-related emissions research. In this paper, we summarize the presentations from researchers who are engaged in improving our understanding of the contribution of mobile sources to air quality. Participants in the workshop discussed evaluation of in-use emissions control programs, effects of fuels on emissions, emission models and emission inventories, results from gas- and particle-phase emissions studies from spark-ignition and diesel-powered vehicles, and efforts to improve our capabilities in performing on-board emissions measurements, as well as topics for future research.     

Observations on the suitability of the aethalometer for vehicular and workplace monitoring

A field study was undertaken to evaluate the suitability of the aethalometer, an instrument capable of performing near-real-time measurement of low-level (10-1,000 ng/m3) airborne combustion products, for vehicular and workplace monitoring. Several technical limitations were identified: (1) there was no ready means for external calibration of optical measurements; (2) airflow rates were unstable; (3) effective range of concentrations was limited; and (4) the aethalometer demonstrated sensitivity to movement and vibration. Unless addressed, these limitations will restrict future uses of the aethalometer for vehicular and workplace monitoring.     

Fluldized-Bed Combustion

The Fourth International Conference on Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) was held at The MITRE Corporation in McLean, VA, December 9 to 11, 1975. With attendees from Great Britain, West Germany, Japan, Canada, and Sweden, the conference apparently fulfilled its international scope and intent.

The objectives of the conference were to review the current state of technology in FBC, to promote technical information exchange on FBC and related areas, and to generate a useful technical information base for further FBC development. Throughout the conference, the goal of commercialization was repeatedly emphasized.

Sponsored by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) and coordinated by MITRE, this meeting was the most comprehensive event in the seven year series of conferences on this subject according to attendees. ERDA, the government’s lead agency in FBC technology development, is the principal sponsor and coordinator of the National Fluidized Bed Combustion Program with the goal of advancing the commercialization time frame for FBC. Prior conferences in this series were hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at about two year intervals at Hueston Woods, Ohio. The last EPA conference was held in October 1972.