| Contents Notes |
The impact of local point sources emissions on the near-source atmosphere has been investigated in a two-phase study. The phase I study was conducted to investigate the impact of a coal-fired power plant on the near source atmosphere. Phase II was conducted to study the impact of a sulfuric acid plant and a pulp and paper mill. The results of phase I are presented in a separate report. Sampling for phase II took place during August of 1981 at the sulfuric acid plant operated by American Cyanamid and the pulp and paper mill operated by the Union Camp Corporation. Both plants are located in Savannah, Georgia. Source measurements were made for emission rates of H2SO4, particulate sulfate, SO2, NOX, and total particulate matter; and elemental composition by particle size was determined. Ambient measurements were made for all the preceding pollutants plus HNO3, particulate nitrate, and pertinent meteorological parameters required for dispersion modeling. The average concentration of TSP in the ambient was about 120 fjg/m3, while the average sulfate and nitrate concentrations were, respectively, 6 fjg/m3 and 2 jug/m3. Factor analysis based on elemental analyses of ambient air particulate samples, the plants' particulate emissions, and local soil samples indicated that wind-blown soil was the dominate source of the ambient particulate matter. Factor analysis. dispersion modeling, and comparative upwind-downwind concentrations indicated that primary sulfate and nitrate emissions from the target sources were responsible for only a small fraction of the observed ambient concentrations of these materials. The major source of the observed sulfates and nitrates appeared to be secondary aerosols, per- haps dominated by long-range transport. |
