A case study of potential human health impacts from petroleum coke transfer facilities

Abstract

Petroleum coke or "petcoke" is a solid material created during petroleum refinement and is distributed via transfer facilities that may be located in densely populated areas. The health impacts from petcoke exposure to residents living in proximity to such facilities were evaluated for a petcoke transfer facilities located in Chicago, Illinois. Site-specific, margin of safety (MOS) and margin of exposure (MOE) analyses were conducted using estimated airborne and dermal exposures. The exposure assessment was based on a combined measurement and modeling program that included multiyear on-site air monitoring, air dispersion modeling, and analyses of soil and surfaces in residential areas adjacent to two petcoke transfer facilities located in industrial areas. Airborne particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM) were used as a marker for petcoke. Based on daily fence line monitoring, the average daily PM concentration at the KCBX Terminals measured on-site was 32 μg/m, with 89% of 24-hr average PM concentrations below 50 μg/m and 99% below 100 μg/m. A dispersion model estimated that the emission sources at the KCBX Terminals produced peak PM levels attributed to the petcoke facility at the most highly impacted residence of 11 μg/m on an annual average basis and 54 μg/m on 24-hr average basis. Chemical indicators of petcoke in soil and surface samples collected from residential neighborhoods adjacent to the facilities were equivalent to levels in corresponding samples collected at reference locations elsewhere in Chicago, a finding that is consistent with limited potential for off-site exposure indicated by the fence line monitoring and air dispersion modeling. The MOE based upon dispersion model estimates ranged from 800 to 900 for potential inhalation, the primary route of concern for particulate matter. This indicates a low likelihood of adverse health effects in the surrounding community. Implications: Handling of petroleum coke at bulk material transfer facilities has been identified as a concern for the public health of surrounding populations. The current assessment, based on measurements and modeling of two facilities located in a densely populated urban area, indicates that petcoke transport and accumulation in off-site locations is minimal. In addition, estimated human exposures, if any, are well below levels that could be anticipated to produce adverse health effects in the general population.

Measures to reduce air pollution caused by fugitive dust emissions from harbour activities

“…Several pollutants were measured, such as PM10, NOx, SO 2 , CO, C 6 H 6 , O 3 , PAH and heavy metals such as chromium, copper, manganese, vanadium and zinc. Vanadium, zinc and nickel are usually associated with the emissions of petcoke [3,5]. During the measurement campaigns several arrivals of cargo ships carrying petcoke were registered, each one transporting between 6,000 and 10,000 tons.…”

“…This often results in fugitive dust emissions from petcoke, which have potential negative health effects on local population. Moreover, petcoke particles may also have adverse impact on buildings [3]. The chemical composition of petcoke is variable and dependent on the quality of the crude oil from which it is obtained, with carbon being the main constituent with up to 91.8 wt.…”

“…%), which includes heavy metals, such as vanadium (V) or nickel (Ni) [2,4]. Some toxicological studies have been performed [3,5], suggesting that, in general, petcoke acts as an inert dust with human health risks associated to long-term dust inhalation, such as chronic pulmonary inflammation or respiratory tract irritation [4,5]. Additionally, particulate matter exposition, such as PM2.5 and PM10, i.e.…”

“…According to the European Environment Agency [7] components of solid PM such as metals or PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which are contained in petcoke, are known carcinogens and directly toxic to living cells. As the reported studies indicate, there is still a lack of understanding concerning the health and environmental effects of fugitive petcoke dust and most the authors agree that further investigations are an important requirement [3].…”

Numerical and physical assessment of control measures to mitigate fugitive dust emissions from harbor activities

“…In such cases, fugitive dust emissions from petcoke endanger the local population's health (Grahame and Schlesinger, 2010). Moreover, petcoke particles may also have negative impact on buildings (Dourson et al 2016;USEPA 2015).…”