PAH Measurements in Air in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region

Hsu, Yu-Mei; Harner, Tom; Li, Henrik; Fellin, Phil

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00178

Cited by 44 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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Section: Model Evaluation Against Passive Monitoring Data 20mentioning

confidence: 98%

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Qiu¹,

Cheng²,

Yang³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. Two speciated and spatially-resolved emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) were developed. The first database was derived from volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions data provided by the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) and the second database was derived from additional data collected within the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands 15Monitoring (JOSM) program. CALPUFF modelling results for atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), alkylated PAH, and dibenzothiophenes (DBT), obtained using each of the emissions databases, are presented and compared with measurements from a passive air monitoring network. The JOSM-derived emissions resulted in better model-measurement agreement in the total PAH concentrations and for most PAH species concentrations, compared to results using CEMA-derived emissions. At local sites near oil sands mines, the percent error of the 20 model compared to observations decreased from 30% using the CEMA-derived emissions to 17% using the JOSMderived emissions. The improvement at local sites was likely attributed to the inclusion of updated tailings pond emissions estimated from JOSM activities. In either the CEMA-derived or JOSM-derived emissions scenario, the model underestimated PAH concentrations by a factor of 3 at remote locations. Potential reasons for the disagreement include forest fire emissions, re-emissions of previously deposited PAHs, and long-range transport not 25 considered in the model. Alkylated PAH and DBT concentrations were also significantly underestimated. The CALPUFF model is expected to predict higher concentrations because of the limited chemistry and deposition modelling. Thus the model underestimation of PACs is likely due to gaps in the emissions database for these compounds and uncertainties in the methodology for estimating the emissions. Future work is required that focuses on improving the PAC emission estimation and speciation methodologies and reducing the uncertainties in VOC 30 emissions which are subsequently used in PAC emissions estimation.Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., https://doi

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Section: Model Evaluation Against Passive Monitoring Data 20mentioning

confidence: 98%

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Qiu¹,

Cheng²,

Yang³

et al. 2017

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, site L14 showed extremely high PAH concentrations during the summer months, which was also excluded from model evaluation. The higher summertime concentrations at site L14 was likely due to revolatilization of PAHs from nearby Gregoire Lake (Hsu et al, 2015). Furthermore, due to the high volatility of NAPH leading to sampling biases (Harner et al, 2013) and the high NAPH concentrations (1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than all other PACs), we took NAPH out from the total PAH group and treated it separately to avoid masking the other PAC species.…”

Section: Model Evaluation Against Passive Monitoring Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PAC emissions sources directly related to oil sands development include bitumen production facilities, mine face, mine fleet, and tailings ponds (Parajulee and Wania, 2014). Sources from non-industrial activities also contribute: wood burning, forest fires, and vehicular emissions have also been identified as sources of pervasive airborne PAHs (Hsu et al, 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca oil sands region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Qiu¹,

Cheng

Yang³

et al. 2018

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two speciated and spatially resolved emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) were developed. The first database was derived from volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions data provided by the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) and the second database was derived from additional data collected within the Joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM) program. CALPUFF modelling results for atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, and dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), obtained using each of the emissions databases, are presented and compared with measurements from a passive air monitoring network. The JOSMderived emissions resulted in better model-measurement agreement in the total PAH concentrations and for most PAH species concentrations compared to results using CEMAderived emissions. At local sites near oil sands mines, the percent error of the model compared to observations decreased from 30 % using the CEMA-derived emissions to 17 % using the JOSM-derived emissions. The improvement at local sites was likely attributed to the inclusion of updated tailings pond emissions estimated from JOSM activities. In either the CEMA-derived or JOSM-derived emissions scenario, the model underestimated PAH concentrations by a factor of 3 at remote locations. Potential reasons for the disagreement include forest fire emissions, re-emissions of previously deposited PAHs, and long-range transport not con-sidered in the model. Alkylated PAH and DBT concentrations were also significantly underestimated. The CALPUFF model is expected to predict higher concentrations because of the limited chemistry and deposition modelling. Thus the model underestimation of PACs is likely due to gaps in the emissions database for these compounds and uncertainties in the methodology for estimating the emissions. Future work is required that focuses on improving the PAC emissions estimation and speciation methodologies and reducing the uncertainties in VOC emissions which are subsequently used in PAC emissions estimation.

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“…This can happen over short (i.e., diurnal) and long (i.e., seasonal) timescales. Hsu et al (2015) presented evidence of evaporation of PAHs from Lake Gregoire, which may be sufficiently large as to control local atmospheric concentrations in summer, with peak levels occurring in May. They suggest that PAHs that were atmospherically deposited during the winter months may have run off to the lake's surface waters during snow melt, from which evaporation occurred when temperatures increased in spring.…”

Section: Validation Of Emissions From Aircraft Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in science and applications of air pollution monitoring: A case study on oil sands monitoring targeting ecosystem protection

Brook

Cober

Freemark

et al. 2019

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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The potential environmental impact of air pollutants emitted from the oil sands industry in Alberta, Canada, has received considerable attention. The mining and processing of bitumen to produce synthetic crude oil, and the waste products associated with this activity, lead to significant emissions of gaseous and particle air pollutants. Deposition of pollutants occurs locally (i.e., near the sources) and also potentially at distances downwind, depending upon each pollutant's chemical and physical properties and meteorological conditions. The Joint Oil Sands Monitoring Program (JOSM) was initiated in 2012 by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta to enhance or improve monitoring of pollutants and their potential impacts. In support of JOSM, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) undertook a significant research effort via three components: the Air, Water, and Wildlife components, which were implemented to better estimate baseline conditions related to levels of pollutants in the air and water, amounts of deposition, and exposures experienced by the biota. The criteria air contaminants (e.g., nitrogen oxides [NO x ], sulfur dioxide [SO 2 ], volatile organic compounds [VOCs], particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm [PM 2.5 ]) and their secondary atmospheric products were of interest, as well as toxic compounds, particularly polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), trace metals, and mercury (Hg). This critical review discusses the challenges of assessing ecosystem impacts and summarizes the major results of these efforts through approximately 2018. Focus is on the emissions to the air and the findings from the Air Component of the ECCC research and linkages to observations of contaminant levels in the surface waters in the region, in aquatic species, as well as in terrestrial and avian species. The existing evidence of impact on these species is briefly discussed, as is the potential for some of them to serve as sentinel species for the ongoing monitoring needed to better understand potential effects, their potential causes, and to detect future changes. Quantification of the atmospheric emissions of multiple pollutants needs to be improved, as does an understanding of the processes influencing fugitive emissions and local and regional deposition patterns. The influence of multiple stressors on biota exposure and response, from natural bitumen and forest fires to climate change, complicates the current ability to attribute effects to air emissions from the industry. However, there is growing evidence of the impact of current levels of PACs on some species, pointing to the need to improve the ability to predict PAC exposures and the key emission source involved. Although this critical review attempts to integrate some of the findings across the components, in terms of ECCC activities, increased coordination or integration of air, water, and wildlife research would enhance deeper scientific understanding. Improved understanding is needed in order to guide the development of longterm mon...

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PAH Measurements in Air in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region

Cited by 44 publications

References 42 publications

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands Region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Emissions databases for polycyclic aromatic compounds in the Canadian Athabasca oil sands region – development using current knowledge and evaluation with passive sampling and air dispersion modelling data

Advances in science and applications of air pollution monitoring: A case study on oil sands monitoring targeting ecosystem protection

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