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An Evaluation of Hazardous Air Pollutants and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Tank Barges in Memphis, TN
Citation:
An Evaluation of Hazardous Air Pollutants and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Tank Barges in Memphis, TN.
Impact/Purpose:
The Memphis, TN Barge Emissions Study is a community-scale effort to evaluate volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) that are emitted from tank barges that transport gasoline along the Mississippi River. The study will also assist in developing emission inventories for communities being exposed to emissions from tank barges. The data collected from the study can be used to characterize risk, support health affects assessments for urban populations near rivers with tank barge traffic, examine baseline concentrations for community exposure, improve air quality models from mobile source emissions, and delineate local scale HAP gradients.
Description:
Many urban centers have population centers near river ports, which may be affected by volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from tank barge traffic. This study will examine Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas. Both cities (located in Shelby County, TN and Crittenden County, AR, respectively) are currently classified as moderate non-attainment for the eight-hour ozone standard. The first part of this two-phase study, which is funded under a RARE grant and other funding sources, will involve ambient air sampling in Baton Rouge, LA to obtain barge-specific emissions information. This sampling will occur in September 2008 and will be used in determining barge emission factors. The second part of the study will be funded under a National Community Air Toxics Assessment Grant and will take place in the summer 2009, during ozone season, to better define the toxic emissions from barges and the potential air toxics affects on the Memphis area. The study will also use remote sensing technology in addition to other passive collection techniques (diffusive sampling, summa canisters) in order to examine other potential sources that could be contributing to poor air quality in the Memphis area. The sampling will provide a broad focus to determine the toxic chemicals released and to quantify the hydrocarbons that may be released near a barge loading area, which is also located near a low income community.