Analysis of Volatile Organic and Sulfur Compounds in Air around a Pulp Paper Mill in North-Central Idaho
Additional Funding Sources
This project is supported by a 2017-2018 STEM Undergraduate Research Grant from the Higher Education Research Council and by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Grant No. P20GM103408.
Abstract
Lewiston, Idaho is located in the Snake River Valley bordering North-Central Idaho and Southeastern Washington, with a population of around 42,000 including the surrounding areas. One of the main industries and employers in the region is a pulp paper mill in North Lewiston, which results in odorous levels of sulfur air pollutants. Both passive diffusion and active air sampling via sorbent tubes and analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) were utilized to measure over 50 volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and sulfurous compounds in ambient air (adapted from EPA Method TO-17). The concentration of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) increased with proximity to the paper mill location. Elevated concentrations of benzene and chloroform were found in the region during 2017 and 2018 which were on average above the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) acceptable levels. To compare VOC concentrations in this rural area to those of larger urban areas, samples were also taken in the cities of Spokane, WA, Boise, ID and Coeur d’Alene, ID.
Analysis of Volatile Organic and Sulfur Compounds in Air around a Pulp Paper Mill in North-Central Idaho
Lewiston, Idaho is located in the Snake River Valley bordering North-Central Idaho and Southeastern Washington, with a population of around 42,000 including the surrounding areas. One of the main industries and employers in the region is a pulp paper mill in North Lewiston, which results in odorous levels of sulfur air pollutants. Both passive diffusion and active air sampling via sorbent tubes and analysis by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) were utilized to measure over 50 volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and sulfurous compounds in ambient air (adapted from EPA Method TO-17). The concentration of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) increased with proximity to the paper mill location. Elevated concentrations of benzene and chloroform were found in the region during 2017 and 2018 which were on average above the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) acceptable levels. To compare VOC concentrations in this rural area to those of larger urban areas, samples were also taken in the cities of Spokane, WA, Boise, ID and Coeur d’Alene, ID.
Comments
W50