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COMPARISON OF THE SPECIATED VOC COMPOSITION AT SELECTED HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA SITES FOR THE YEARS 1978 AND 2000
Citation:
Lonneman, W A. AND R L. Seila. COMPARISON OF THE SPECIATED VOC COMPOSITION AT SELECTED HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA SITES FOR THE YEARS 1978 AND 2000. Presented at Symposium on Air Quality Measurement Methods and Technology - 2004, Research Triangle Park, NC, April 20-22, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
(1) To provide up-to-date VOC source profiles for EPA's revitalized SPECIATE source profile library, through gas chromatographic (GC) analysis of "samples of opportunity" acquired in HEASD-supported field studies.
(2) To provide VOC measurement support to HEASD-sponsored field studies.
Description:
Comparisons are presented for the C2-C12 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) observed at Houston area sites used for ambient air monitoring during special ozone field study programs conducted in 1978 and 2000. In 1978 the special study called the Houston Ozone Modeling Study consisted of the measurement of VOCs and other pollutants at several ground sites throughout the Houston area to develop a pollutant database for ozone model development and testing. In 2000 the special ozone study called the Texas 2000 Air Quality Study had a similar goal for ozone model testing and consisted predominately of aircraft sampling platforms in addition to the exiting network of ground sampling sites many of which were in operation during the 1978 program. Sampling strategies at the ground sites were different for the two studies. To compare VOCs more directly with the 1978 VOC data a canister collection program was implemented in 2000 at selected sites to collect integrated air samples in canisters during the 0600-0900 and 1300-1600 periods. VOC composition and concentration levels are compared to determine similarities and differences between the 1978 and 2000 periods. In both 1978 and 2000 samples were collected in the Houston Washburn Tunnel to determine VOC composition emitted predominately from vehicular sources. VOC composition will be compared to evaluate hydrocarbon compositions in vehicular tailpipe emissions during the two study periods.
The views expressed in these Proceedings are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Scientists in EPA have prepared the EPA sections, and those sections have been reviewed in accordance with EPA's peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication.