Abstract |
The Kanawha Valley region of West Virginia includes a deep river valley with a large population living in close proximity to many potential sources of ambient volatile organics compounds (VOCs). The Valley runs approximately 100 km from Alloy to Nitro and is between 100 and 200 m deep. Nearly 250,000 people live in this section of the Valley, which includes the state capital of Charleston. Many large chemical manufacturing, transportation, and storage facilities are also located within the Valley's walls. The topography, population density, and locations of sources dictate the possibility of high population exposures. To investigate exposures to VOCs emitted by the local industry, simultaneous measurements of 19 VOCs, particle pH, particle elemental composition, inorganic gasses, and meteorological parameters were collected over an entire year. Sampling was performed in the Valley with a mobile van that collected samples for 15 days per month at one of three sites each month. Analysis reported in the work include simultaneous analysis of all data oriented towards source attribution. Results of factor analyses suggest auto-related sources, transported aerosol, chlorinated organic sources as well as site-specific sources and a single incident source - a forest fire. The techniques employed suggest that inclusion of VOC measurements increase the ability of such studies to identify pollutant sources. (Copyright (c) 1991 Pergamon Press plc.) |