Source-receptor study of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter in the Kanawha Valley, WV. 2. Analysis of factors contributing to VOC and particle exposures

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5231379

Cohen, M A; Ryan, P B; Spengler, J D; Oezkaynak, H; Hayes, C

The Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia includes a deep river valley with a large population living in close proximity to many potential sources of ambient volatile organics compounds (VOCs). The Valley runs approximately 100 km from Alloy to Nitro and is between 100 and 200 m deep. Nearly 250,000 people live in this section of the Valley, which includes the state capital of Charleston. Many large chemical manufacturing, transportation, and storage facilities are also located within the Valley's walls. The topography, population density, and locations of sources dictate the possibility of high population exposures. To investigate exposures to VOCs emitted by the local industry, simultaneous measurements of 19 VOCs, particle pH, particle elemental composition, inorganic gasses, and meteorological parameters were collected over an entire year. Sampling was performed in the Valley with a mobile van that collected samples for 15 days per month at one of three sites each month. Analysis reported in the work include simultaneous analysis of all data oriented towards source attribution. Results of factor analyses suggest auto-related sources, transported aerosol, chlorinated organic sources as well as site-specific sources and a single incident source - a forest fire. The techniques employed suggest that inclusion of VOC measurements increase the ability of such studies to identify pollutant sources.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5231379
• Report Number(s): PB-91-207092/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FEDERAL REGION III
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
INDUSTRY
MATTER
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
SITE SURVEYS
USA
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTES
WEST VIRGINIA