AAAR 31st Annual Conference
October 8-12, 2012
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Measurements of PM2.5 Concentration and Composition in the Vicinity of Barnett Shale Natural Gas Production Facilities for Population Exposure Assessment
BARBARA ZIELINSKA, Eric Fujita, David Campbell, Desert Research Institute
Abstract Number: 565 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract The Barnett Shale study was conducted in April-May 2010 to provide a better understanding of population exposure to air toxics associated with gas production operations in the Barnett Shale region of North Texas. As part of this study, PM2.5 samples were collected downwind of gas production areas, using MiniVol portable air samplers for 7 continuous days over one month period. One location was at a single private residence near a well with emissions from condensate tanks. The second facility was a gas compressor station located near a small community. The spatial variations in PM2.5 concentrations were determined at various distances and directions from this source. Particles were collected on Teflon and pre-fired quartz filters that were analyzed for mass and elements (Teflon filters) and for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) by thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) method (quartz filters). In addition, quartz filter samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique. The results indicate contribution of local sources and transport from the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.