Airborne Lidar Measurements of Aerosol and Ozone Above the Canadian Oil Sands Region

Aggarwal, Monika; Whiteway, J.; Seabrook, J. A.; Gray, Lawrence; Strawbridge, K. B.; Liu, Peter; O’Brien, Jason M.; Li, Shao-Meng; McLaren, R.

doi:10.5194/amt-2017-391

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…The observed increase in the level of PAHs during the FF event (note, excluding alkPAHs and DBTs) was assessed against expected emissions of PAHs to air , for the area burned by FFs. − Emissions factors for ∑alkPAHs and ∑DBTs are not available. To perform this comparison, we selected a control volume having a radius of 250 km and a height of 1 km (boundary layer height , ) (see Figure ). The selection of a 250 km radius reflects the size of the oil sands region and encompasses the areas that were affected by FFs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal and Spatial Trends of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Air across the Athabasca Oil Sands Region Reflect Inputs from Open Pit Mining and Forest Fires

Schuster

Harner

et al. 2019

Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett.

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Results of a passive air monitoring study for polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) in Alberta, Canada, are reported. Polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers were deployed for consecutive 2-month periods from November 2010 to January 2016 at 15 sites. Samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs (alkPAHs), and dibenzothiophene and its alkylated derivatives (DBTs). Concentrations in air were in the ranges of 0.3–43, 0.15–460, and 0.04–130 ng/m3 for ∑PAHs, ∑alkPAHs, and ∑DBTs, respectively. The increase in the levels of PACs in air at most sites was small but statistically insignificant over this 5-year period, which is consistent with expectations as in situ bitumen extraction techniques have become predominant over open pit mining in the area. Significant increases in PAC levels were observed at a site that is within a few kilometers of open pit mining that expanded over the study period. The 5-year regional trend for PACs in air provides a baseline against which planned future open pit mining projects (e.g., Teck Frontier) can be assessed for impact. Seasonal trends in concentrations in air were observed for more volatile PACs; concentrations in air were higher in winter than in summer. These trends were not observed for less volatile compounds. Two major forest fire episodes from April to July 2011 and during June and July 2015 resulted in greatly elevated levels for PAH and a small subset of alkylated PAHs but not for the majority of alkPAHs and DBTs. Increases in regional PAH concentrations associated with forest fire periods were consistent with estimates based on published emission factors for PAHs for wood combustion. Although forest fires are likely to be an important source of PAH concentrations in air across the AOSR, alkPAHs and DBTs appear to be primarily associated with emissions from oil sands mining operations. Air quality guidelines for alkPAHs and DBTs are still lacking.

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