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SOURCE RECEPTOR METHODOLOGY FOR SOME CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS
Citation:
Ludwig, F., E. Liston, AND L. Salas. SOURCE RECEPTOR METHODOLOGY FOR SOME CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-84/023 (NTIS PB84149160), 1984.
Description:
A source-receptor methodology is described that can be used to estimate emission rates of halogenated hydrocarbons from a manufacturing plant when access to the plant is not possible. An inert tracer is released at a known rate from a vehicle traveling back and forth on a road outside the plant area. Samples are collected downwind of the plant (at a distance of about 1 to 5 km) and analyzed for the tracer and the materials of interest. The relationship between the emission rates of the tracer and the measured concentrations has been derived. The method is generally insensitive to meteorological conditions, if applied at night or under overcast conditions during the day. It is suitable for estimating fugitive emissions from sources within 10 or 15 m of ground level. It must be applied with discretion, if interfering sources are present in the area. Once emission rates have been determined, conventional Gaussian methods may be used to estimate expected maximum ground-level concentrations of the materials of interest downwind of the source area. A suitable manufacturing plant was selected (Vulcan Materials Company near Wichita, Kansas) and the method was applied to estimate emission rates for four different halogenated hydrocarbons. The feasibility of the methodology was demonstrated and suggestions for improvements were made.