Summary of Air Quality Summary of Air Quality Presentations Presentations

byby

ENSC 502ENSC 502Class of 2000-2001Class of 2000-2001

PAHsPAHs

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Average concentration

(ng/ m3)

Control Nonflaringat Priddis

Flaring atPriddis

Bearspaw Flaring(from

literature)

Location

Benzo(a)Pyrene

Higher ConcentrationsHigher Concentrationsof These Metalsof These Metals

0.00008

0.01008

0.02008

Con

cent

rati

on (m

g/m

3 )

Cd Cr Ni Sb Cu

CalgaryBearspaw

--3030Alberta EnvironmentAlberta Environment

Ambient Air Quality (annual)Ambient Air Quality (annual)

--2.472.47HoustonHouston

--1.31.3CalgaryCalgary

0.0470.0470.0970.097KananaskisKananaskis

0.520.521.831.83PriddisPriddis

(Flaring)(Flaring)

0.380.380.740.74PriddisPriddis

(Non- Flaring)(Non- Flaring)

0.990.995.815.81BearspawBearspaw

SulphateSulphateSulphur DioxideSulphur DioxideAverage values (Average values (mmg/mg/m33))

SO2 and SO42- Concentrations

SOSO22 ModellingModelling

VegetationVegetation

Both Priddis and Bearspaw are significantly Both Priddis and Bearspaw are significantly affected by SOaffected by SO22 pollution relative to the control pollution relative to the control as determined by Si/So ratiosas determined by Si/So ratios

Bearspaw is the most affected by sour gas Bearspaw is the most affected by sour gas emissions according to isotope dataemissions according to isotope data

Priddis is more affected by environmental Priddis is more affected by environmental stresses as indicated by histochemical analysis stresses as indicated by histochemical analysis and visual damageand visual damage

Average fraction of sulphur from industryCarseland 0.6245

Kananaskis 0.5959SE Calgary 0.7739

Average fraction of sulphur from vehicle exhaustCarseland 0.3755

Kananaskis 0.4041

SE Calgary 0.226

PrecipitationPrecipitation

PrecipitationPrecipitation

Rural sites had higher deposition of Rural sites had higher deposition of sulphate.sulphate.

Nitrate does not vary with the Nitrate does not vary with the degree of urbanisation. degree of urbanisation.

Sulphate at Carsland primarily Sulphate at Carsland primarily derived from industrial emissions.derived from industrial emissions.

Sulphate flux greatest in SE Sulphate flux greatest in SE Calgary.Calgary.

N-AlkanesN-Alkanes

No significant difference between No significant difference between flaring and non flaring events may flaring and non flaring events may indicate that:indicate that:– particulate n-alkanes transform into particulate n-alkanes transform into

more complex moleculesmore complex molecules– Or particulate Or particulate n-n-alkanes were fully alkanes were fully

combusted in the flarecombusted in the flare

Indoor Particulates - CPMIndoor Particulates - CPM44

Indoor VOC ConcentrationsIndoor VOC Concentrations

The concentration of VOCs vs the location of sample

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

Bedroom Kitchen Dinning Room Living Room Basement Outside

Location

Perceived Health EffectsPerceived Health Effects

In general, Priddis residents show a greater In general, Priddis residents show a greater concern and take more action towards the concern and take more action towards the sour gas issue sour gas issue

Significant correlationSignificant correlation

- Priddis & Bearspaw: - Priddis & Bearspaw:

level of concern level of concern level of importance level of importance

- Bearspaw:- Bearspaw:

level of concern level of concern perceived health impacts perceived health impacts

Media and Public Media and Public PerceptionPerception

Articles Published in Canada on Sour Gas in Alberta From 1982 to 2001

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Time (years)

Nu

mb

er

of

Art

icle

s

Lodgepole Blow out -Increased Regulation

AEUB - New Facilities Application

AEUB Responds to Flaring Concerns

Shell Caroline Plant DevelopmentERCB Hearings

Weibo Ludw ig

Pincher CreekStudyWhaleback Controversy - ERCB Hearings

Advisory Advisory CommitteeCommittee

Representative crossRepresentative cross

section of affected section of affected interest groupsinterest groups

Critical in approachCritical in approach Outlines a plan of Outlines a plan of

implementationimplementation EUB compliance criticalEUB compliance critical

RecommendationsRecommendations

Restructuring of the Restructuring of the hearing processhearing process

Improved industry Improved industry and public interactionand public interaction

Better enforcement Better enforcement and more auditsand more audits

Public education on Public education on sour gas issuessour gas issues

LEGAL ISSUESLEGAL ISSUESReport of the Provincial Advisory Report of the Provincial Advisory

CommitteeCommittee

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

We would like to thank the following We would like to thank the following people and organisations:people and organisations:

Butterfield Acres, Rothney Astronomical Butterfield Acres, Rothney Astronomical Observatory, K. McDonald, K. Foster,Observatory, K. McDonald, K. Foster,

Van Ho, Matt Tammam, John Tong, G. Van Ho, Matt Tammam, John Tong, G. Kerlukes, T. Lambert, A. Lucas, S. Roth, Kerlukes, T. Lambert, A. Lucas, S. Roth, and the ENSC faculty and staff.and the ENSC faculty and staff.