Abstract Title
Analysis of Summertime Atmospheric Sulfides and Volatile Organic Compounds in Lewis-Clark Valley near a Kraft Pulp Paper Mill.
Abstract
The Lewis-Clark Valley (LCV), home to around 40,000 people, consists of Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA. Tourists and neighboring towns often characterize the LCV by the sulfurous smell indicative to pulp/paper processing from a kraft pulp paper mill. Only one major study was conducted in the area previously, and there is a need for long term data to characterize the pollution levels. Using active sampling and sorbent tubes, weekly air samples were taken around the LCV from May to July. In addition, samples were taken over a 24 hour period to study the daily variation of concentration levels. Analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (TD-GC-MS) measures low level (sub ng/L) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulfur compounds such as: dichloromethane, chloroform, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, benzene, and toluene. LCV air samples taken in May show elevated levels (ng/L) of chloroform, dichloromethane and benzene with the highest levels of dimethyl sulfide found near the paper mill. Additional air sampling in June and July will further characterize the air quality in the LCV, specifically the concentrations of the aforementioned compounds.
Analysis of Summertime Atmospheric Sulfides and Volatile Organic Compounds in Lewis-Clark Valley near a Kraft Pulp Paper Mill.
The Lewis-Clark Valley (LCV), home to around 40,000 people, consists of Lewiston, ID and Clarkston, WA. Tourists and neighboring towns often characterize the LCV by the sulfurous smell indicative to pulp/paper processing from a kraft pulp paper mill. Only one major study was conducted in the area previously, and there is a need for long term data to characterize the pollution levels. Using active sampling and sorbent tubes, weekly air samples were taken around the LCV from May to July. In addition, samples were taken over a 24 hour period to study the daily variation of concentration levels. Analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (TD-GC-MS) measures low level (sub ng/L) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulfur compounds such as: dichloromethane, chloroform, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, benzene, and toluene. LCV air samples taken in May show elevated levels (ng/L) of chloroform, dichloromethane and benzene with the highest levels of dimethyl sulfide found near the paper mill. Additional air sampling in June and July will further characterize the air quality in the LCV, specifically the concentrations of the aforementioned compounds.