Environmental Quality Concerns from Wildfire Residual Organic Compounds
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The National Fire Protection Association states that in 2014, there were 1,298,000 fires reported in the United States. With such staggering numbers it is no mystery why this has been a "Hot" topic for Prism Analytical Technologies to research and address. Though we have little to offer in the way of fire prevention, we can help to reduce the number of illnesses or symptoms experienced following the fire and smoke clean up. Alice Delia, Ph.D., Laboratory Director, has worked diligently to prepare multiple papers, presentations, and reporting options to help you cater to your clients' requests. Most recently, Alice had the privilege of participating in a Wildfire focused round table discussion during American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Expo (AIHce 2016).
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Environmental Quality Concerns from Wildfire Residual Organic Compounds
- 1. Residual Organic Compounds Wildfires: Resolution of Indoor Environmental Quality Concerns (RT-247) A. Delia, Ph.D. Prism Analytical Technologies, Inc.
- 2. Why Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? →Chemical data can add … →Chemical techniques/methods used are … →Chemical data consist of … →Chemical data can be used to …
- 3. Chemical data can add … Assessment of: →Smoke odor – During Fire – After Fire →Possible health effects – Inferred from partial data →Remediation effectiveness EQUILIBRIUM
- 4. Chemical techniques used are … →Thermal Desorption (EPA TO-17) →Canister (EPA TO-15) →Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) →XAD for Semi-Volatiles →On-Site (e.g., PID)
- 5. Why don’t these work? →Suitable for small range of compounds →Pre-set list (e.g., TO-15/17) →Unique Fire VOCs not “mainstream” →Concentrations very low (sub-ppb)
- 6. Chemical data consists of … Chemical Classes – Hydrocarbons • Aliphatic, cyclic, unsaturated – Aromatics • Single (e.g., benzene), PAHs – Oxygenated • Aldehydes • Acids • Esters • Alcohols
- 7. Fire produces … Schauer et al., EnvSciTech, 2001 n-alkanes branched alkanes n-alkenes branched alkenes alkynes diolefins cycloalkanes cycloalkenes aromatic hydrocarbons polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons phenol and substituted phenols guaiacol and substituted guaiacols syringol and substituted syringols aliphatic aldehydes aliphatic ketones olefinic aldehydes aromatic carbonyls dicarbonyls n-alkenoic acids resin acids Sugars (e.g., levoglucosan) PAH ketones other compounds Clark County, Exceptional Event Report, 2003 PM2.5 Organic carbon Elemental carbon Elemental Species • Potassium • Chloride CO CO2 Alkanes (C2-C10) Alkenes (C2-C9) Aromatics (BTEX) Oxygenated VOCs • Methanol • Formic acid • Acetic acid • Formaldehyde • Acetaldehyde • Acetone • Acrolein (propenal) • Furan • 2-methyl-furan • 3-methyl-furan • 2,5-dimethyl-furan • Benzofuran Ward, et al., J AWMA 2012 Phenol 2-methylphenol 4-methylphenol 2,4-dimethylphenol Naphthalene 2-methylnaphthalene Acenaphthylene Acenaphthene Dibenzofuran Fluoreneb Phenanthrene Anthracene Fluoranthene Pyrene Benzo(a)anthracene Benzo(b)fluoranthene Benzo(k)fluoranthene Benzo(a)pyrene Tetrachloromethane Benzene Toluene Ethyl Benzene 1,4-Dimethylbenzene 1,2-Dimethylbenzene Isopropylbenzene n-Propylbenzene 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Heitmann et al., Chemosphere 2009, 2011 Acetophenone Benzyl alcohol 4-Ethyl-2-methoxyphenol 2-Hydroxybenzaldehyde 2-Hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde 2-Methoxyphenol 2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol 2-Methylphenol 3-/4-Methylphenol Naphthalene Larson et al., Ann Rev Pub Health, 1994 Carbon monoxide Methane VOCs (Cz--CT) Aldehydes Formaldehyde Acrolein Propionaldehyde Butryaldehyde Acetaldehyde Furfural Substituted furans Benzene Alkyl benzenes Toluene Acetic acid Formic acid Nitrogen oxides (NO,NO2) Sulfur dioxide Methyl chloride Napthalene Substituted napthalenes Oxygenated monoaromatics Guaiacol (and derivatives) Phenol (and derivatives) Syringol (and derivatives) Catechol (and derivatives) Total particle mass Particulate organic carbon Oxygenated PAHs PAHs Pechan, Developing NEI-Commercial Cooking: Tech. Memorandum, 2003 VOC CO PM 10 PM 2.5 PM NAPHTHALENE BENZO[A]PYRENE ACENAPHTHYLENE FLUORENE PHENANTHRENE FLUORANTHENE PYRENE BENZ[A]ANTHRACENE INDENO[1,2,3-C,D]PYRENE ACENAPHTHENE ANTHRACENE BENZO[G,H,I,]PERYLENE PAH, TOTAL BIPHENYL BENZENE TOLUENE ETHYL BENZENE XYLENES STYRENE FORMALDEHYDE ACETALDEHYDE PROPIONALDEHYDE ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE PHENOL ACETOPHENONE O-CRESOL P-CRESOL DIBUTYL PHTHALATE 4-NITROPHENOL
- 8. TOO MUCH DATA! Hundreds to thousands of chemical compounds →Measurement challenge – Very volatile volatile semi-volatile organic compounds – Inorganic compounds →Background interference – “Ordinary” chemical components already present – Many sources share chemical relationship with fire • e.g., Benzene, Formaldehyde
- 9. Narrow analyte selection Breakdown of cell structure Cellulose & Lignin • Primary components of cell walls
- 10. Pyrolysis forms complex mixtures … SyringolGuaicol Levoglucosan
- 11. Essential Criteria Universality VolatilityDetectability Identify commonalities in chemical emissions Necessary to establish dissipation timeline Selective Unambiguous Quantifiable
- 12. Making sense of data … →Effect of fire and environmental conditions →Number and type of indicators →Volatility range – Mixture of light/moderate/heavy VOCs – Slanted toward light or heavy VOCs →Extrapolate – Current and long-term effects – Actions to address contamination
- 13. Summary →Chemical data provides more comprehensive evaluation – Odor, health concern, remediation effectiveness →Many techniques and methods – Need wide chemical range, selective, sensitive →Thousands of chemical compounds – Use of indicators →Criteria: Universal, Volatile Range, Detectable – Account for fuel material, temperature, other reactions
- 14. Need Consensus → Most suitable technique / method → Core chemical fire indicators → What indicates presence of fire & smoke → What indicates completion of remediation → Is there any way to indicate minimal risk for occupants
- 15. Resources →National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) →U.S. Fire Administration →CDC NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards →EPA Air Toxics →Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) →NIH Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
- 16. Acknowledgements The great people at Prism Analytical Technologies! Katie Martin, MS (pending) Beth Vogel, MS Kendrith Rowland Steve Froelicher, Ph.D Dan Baxter – Environmental Analysis Associates