Long-Term Trends in Ambient Air 1,3-Butadiene Levels in Houston, Texas

Abstract

1,3-Butadiene is one of the top air pollution risk drivers in the United States. The ambient air concentrations in Houston, TX are of particular interest because of the relatively large number of stationary industrial sources that report 1,3-butadiene emissions and the relatively large number of vehicle miles traveled every day on Houston roadways. Several Federal and State regulatory programs initiated over the last two decades regulate the amount of 1,3-butadiene emitted to the air from industrial, mobile, and area sources. Emissions reductions from industrial sources in Houston have also been achieved through voluntary agreements between individual facilities and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The impact of these regulatory and voluntary initiatives on air quality has been measured by a network of 30 monitors stationed within the Houston area. Most of the area's monitors have measured reductions in annual average 1,3-butadiene levels in the range of 40-80%. The greatest decreases and statistically significant downward trends have been measured at the monitoring sites closest to industrial facilities.

Impacts associated with the plastic polymers polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutadiene across their life cycle: A review

“…Bio-polybutadiene otherwise still requires similar considerations as fossil carbon-based polybutadiene materials for the rest of their life cycle as detailed below. Production & Manufacturing Monomer production & Polymerisation Butadiene – monomer A known human carcinogen [ 289 ] and one of the top air pollution-related health risk drivers in the United States [ 290 ] – documented release of butadiene into the atmosphere during production [ 291 ] and polymerisation [ 292 ], leading to occupational exposure [ 293 ] and detectable level of butadiene in drinking and ground water [ 294 ]. Products of degradation and atmospheric reactions of butadiene (e.g., 1,3-butadiene monoxide and 1,3-butadiene diepoxide) are considered more carcinogenic than butadiene itself [ 295 ].…”

Detecting Fugitive Emissions of 1,3-Butadiene and Styrene from a Petrochemical Facility: An Application of a Mobile Laboratory and a Modified Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer

“…TPC is a major producer of 1,3-butadiene, which is used by GY along with styrene to produce styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) . As a result of these production facilities, the immediate area surrounding the GY-TPC complex has historically been an area of concern with respect to 1,3-butadiene. , In 2004, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) identified the need to reduce the levels of 1,3-butadiene in the Milby Park Area . Milby Park sits across the river to the west of the GY-TPC complex.…”