Spatial analysis of volatile organic compounds using passive samplers in theRubbertown industrial area of Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Özet

Select volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in the vicinity of chemical facilities and other op-erations in the Rubbertown industrial area of Louisville, Kentucky (USA) using modified EPA Methods 325A/Bpassive sampler tubes. Two-week, time-integrated passive samplers were deployed at ten sites which were ag-gregated into three site groups of varying distances from the Rubbertown area facilities. In comparison tocanister data from 2001 to 2005, two of the sites suggested generally lower current VOC levels. Good precisionwas obtained from the duplicate tubes (≤12%) for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX),styrene, 1,3-butadiene, perchloroethylene, and other trace VOCs. BTEX, styrene, and 1,3-butadiene concentra-tions were statistically significantly higher at two site groups near Rubbertown sources than the site groupfarther away. As found in a similar study in South Philadelphia, BTEX concentrations were also lower for sitesfarther from a source, though the decline was less pronounced on a percentage basis in Rubbertown. Theseresults suggest that EPA Methods 325A/B can be useful to assess VOC gradients for emissions from chemicalfacilities besides fenceline benzene levels from refineries.