Spatial Distribution of Ambient BTEX Concentrations at an International Airport in South Africa
Air travel, and the use of airports, has experienced proliferative growth in the past few decades, resulting in the concomitant release of air pollutants. Air pollution needs to be monitored because of the known relationship between exposure to air pollutants and increased adverse effects on human health. This study monitored a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); specifically BTEX (viz. benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylenes), as many are detrimental to human health. Through the use of passive sampling methods, the spatial variability of BTEX within an international airport was investigated, in order to determine ‘hotspots’ where occupational exposure to BTEX may be intensified. The passive sampling campaign revealed BTEXtotal concentrations ranged between 12.95–124.04 µg m-3. Furthermore, BTEX concentrations were dispersed heterogeneously within the airport. Due to the slow wind speeds recorded (1.13 m.s-1); the hotspots were located close to their main BTEX sources. The main hotspot was located over the main apron of the airport. Employees working in this area may be chronically exposed to these emissions, which could be potentially detrimental to their health.
[1] M. Grampella, G. Martini, D. Scotti, F. Tassan, and G. Zambon, “Determinants of airports’ environmental effects,” Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, vol. 50, pp. 327–344, Jan. 2017.
[2] M. Masiol and R. M. Harrison, “Aircraft engine exhaust emissions and other airport-related contributions to ambient air pollution: A review,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 95, pp. 409–455, Oct. 2014.
[3] K.-H. Jung, F. Artigas, and J. Y. Shin, “Personal, indoor, and outdoor exposure to VOCs in the immediate vicinity of a local airport,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 173, no. 1–4, pp. 555–567, Feb. 2011.
[4] O. Altuntas, “Designation of Environmental Impacts and Damages of Turbojet Engine: A Case Study with GE-J85,” Atmosphere, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 307–323, May 2014.
[5] H. Peace, J. Maughan, B. Owen, and D. Raper, “Identifying the contribution of different airport related sources to local urban air quality,” Environmental Modelling & Software, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 532–538, Apr. 2006.
[6] S. L. Penn et al., “Modeling variability in air pollution-related health damages from individual airport emissions,” Environmental Research, vol. 156, pp. 791–800, Jul. 2017.
[7] A. Unal, Y. Hu, M. E. Chang, M. Talat Odman, and A. G. Russell, “Airport related emissions and impacts on air quality: Application to the Atlanta International Airport,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 39, no. 32, pp. 5787–5798, Oct. 2005.
[8] I. Tesseraux, “Risk factors of jet fuel combustion products,” Toxicology Letters, vol. 149, no. 1–3, pp. 295–300, Apr. 2004.
[9] G. Schürmann et al., “The impact of NOx, CO and VOC emissions on the air quality of Zurich airport,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 103–118, Jan. 2007.
[10] I.-C. Lai, C.-L. Lee, and H.-C. Huang, “A new conceptual model for quantifying transboundary contribution of atmospheric pollutants in the East Asian Pacific rim region,” Environment International, vol. 88, pp. 160–168, Mar. 2016.
[11] S. Hu, S. Fruin, K. Kozawa, S. Mara, A. M. Winer, and S. E. Paulson, “Aircraft Emission Impacts in a Neighborhood Adjacent to a General Aviation Airport in Southern California,” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 43, no. 21, pp. 8039–8045, Nov. 2009.
[12] D. Westerdahl, S. Fruin, P. Fine, and C. Sioutas, “The Los Angeles International Airport as a source of ultrafine particles and other pollutants to nearby communities,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 42, no. 13, pp. 3143–3155, Apr. 2008.
[13] H. Lee, S. C. Olsen, D. J. Wuebbles, and D. Youn, “Impacts of aircraft emissions on the air quality near the ground,” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 5505–5522, Jun. 2013.
[14] H. Burtscher, “Physical characterization of particulate emissions from diesel engines: a review,” Journal of Aerosol Science, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 896–932, Jul. 2005.
[15] M. Masiol and R. M. Harrison, “Aircraft engine exhaust emissions and other airport-related contributions to ambient air pollution: A review,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 95, pp. 409–455, Oct. 2014.
[16] International Civil Aviation Organization, Ed., Airport air quality manual, 1. ed. Montréal: International Civil Aviation Organization, 2011.
[17] A. S. Lourens et al., “Spatial and temporal assessment of gaseous pollutants in the Highveld of South Africa,” South African Journal of Science, vol. 107, no. 1/2, Jan. 2011.
[18] R. Moolla, S. K. Valsamakis, C. J. Curtis, and S. J. Piketh, “Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Benzene and Toluene at a landfill in Johannesburg, South Africa,” in Safety and Security Engineering V, Rome, Italy, 2013, pp. 701–713.
[19] R. Moolla, C. J. Curtis, and J. Knight, “BTEX concentrations influenced by external factors at a diesel-refuelling station in Johannesburg, South Africa,” 2014, pp. 1459–1467.
[20] R. Moolla, C. Curtis, and J. Knight, “Occupational Exposure of Diesel Station Workers to BTEX Compounds at a Bus Depot,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 4101–4115, Apr. 2015.
[21] A. Moore, M. A. Figliozzi, and C. M. Monsere, “An Empirical Study of Particulate Matter Exposure for Passengers Waiting at Bus Stop Shelters in Portland, Oregon, USA,” 2012.
[22] W. H. Organization and others, “WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide: global update 2005: summary of risk assessment,” 2006.
[23] B. Zabiega\la, M. Urbanowicz, K. Szymanska, and J. Namiesnik, “Application of passive sampling technique for monitoring of BTEX concentration in urban air: field comparison of different types of passive samplers,” Journal of chromatographic science, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 167–175, 2010.
[24] J. Roukos, N. Locoge, P. Sacco, and H. Plaisance, “Radial diffusive samplers for determination of 8-h concentration of BTEX, acetone, ethanol and ozone in ambient air during a sea breeze event,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 755–763, Jan. 2011.
[25] A. R. Maroko, “Using air dispersion modeling and proximity analysis to assess chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and environmental justice in New York City,” Applied Geography, vol. 34, pp. 533–547, May 2012.
[26] W. Laowagul, H. Garivait, W. Limpaseni, and K. Yoshizumi, “Ambient Air Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene in Bangkok, Thailand during April-August in 2007,” Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 14–25, Jun. 2008.
[27] J. G. Cerón-Bretón et al., “Diurnal and seasonal variation of BTEX in the air of Monterrey, Mexico: preliminary study of sources and photochemical ozone pollution,” Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 469–482, Oct. 2015.
[28] A. Monod, B. C. Sive, P. Avino, T. Chen, D. R. Blake, and F. Sherwood Rowland, “Monoaromatic compounds in ambient air of various cities: a focus on correlations between the xylenes and ethylbenzene,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 135–149, Jan. 2001.
[29] E. Gallego, F. X. Roca, X. Guardino, and M. G. Rosell, “Indoor and outdoor BTX levels in Barcelona City metropolitan area and Catalan rural areas,” Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 20, no. 9, pp. 1063–1069, 2008.
[30] Y. Zhang et al., “The pollution levels of BTEX and carbonyls under haze and non-haze days in Beijing, China,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 490, pp. 391–396, Aug. 2014.
[31] K. Badjagbo, S. Loranger, S. Moore, R. Tardif, and S. Sauvé, “BTEX Exposures among Automobile Mechanics and Painters and Their Associated Health Risks,” Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 301–316, Apr. 2010.
[32] A. Campos-Candel, M. Llobat-Estellés, and A. R. Mauri-Aucejo, “Desorption of BTEX from activated charcoal using accelerated solvent extraction: evaluation of occupational exposures,” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, vol. 387, no. 4, pp. 1517–1523, Feb. 2007.
[1] M. Grampella, G. Martini, D. Scotti, F. Tassan, and G. Zambon, “Determinants of airports’ environmental effects,” Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, vol. 50, pp. 327–344, Jan. 2017.
[2] M. Masiol and R. M. Harrison, “Aircraft engine exhaust emissions and other airport-related contributions to ambient air pollution: A review,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 95, pp. 409–455, Oct. 2014.
[3] K.-H. Jung, F. Artigas, and J. Y. Shin, “Personal, indoor, and outdoor exposure to VOCs in the immediate vicinity of a local airport,” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 173, no. 1–4, pp. 555–567, Feb. 2011.
[4] O. Altuntas, “Designation of Environmental Impacts and Damages of Turbojet Engine: A Case Study with GE-J85,” Atmosphere, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 307–323, May 2014.
[5] H. Peace, J. Maughan, B. Owen, and D. Raper, “Identifying the contribution of different airport related sources to local urban air quality,” Environmental Modelling & Software, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 532–538, Apr. 2006.
[6] S. L. Penn et al., “Modeling variability in air pollution-related health damages from individual airport emissions,” Environmental Research, vol. 156, pp. 791–800, Jul. 2017.
[7] A. Unal, Y. Hu, M. E. Chang, M. Talat Odman, and A. G. Russell, “Airport related emissions and impacts on air quality: Application to the Atlanta International Airport,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 39, no. 32, pp. 5787–5798, Oct. 2005.
[8] I. Tesseraux, “Risk factors of jet fuel combustion products,” Toxicology Letters, vol. 149, no. 1–3, pp. 295–300, Apr. 2004.
[9] G. Schürmann et al., “The impact of NOx, CO and VOC emissions on the air quality of Zurich airport,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 103–118, Jan. 2007.
[10] I.-C. Lai, C.-L. Lee, and H.-C. Huang, “A new conceptual model for quantifying transboundary contribution of atmospheric pollutants in the East Asian Pacific rim region,” Environment International, vol. 88, pp. 160–168, Mar. 2016.
[11] S. Hu, S. Fruin, K. Kozawa, S. Mara, A. M. Winer, and S. E. Paulson, “Aircraft Emission Impacts in a Neighborhood Adjacent to a General Aviation Airport in Southern California,” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 43, no. 21, pp. 8039–8045, Nov. 2009.
[12] D. Westerdahl, S. Fruin, P. Fine, and C. Sioutas, “The Los Angeles International Airport as a source of ultrafine particles and other pollutants to nearby communities,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 42, no. 13, pp. 3143–3155, Apr. 2008.
[13] H. Lee, S. C. Olsen, D. J. Wuebbles, and D. Youn, “Impacts of aircraft emissions on the air quality near the ground,” Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 5505–5522, Jun. 2013.
[14] H. Burtscher, “Physical characterization of particulate emissions from diesel engines: a review,” Journal of Aerosol Science, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 896–932, Jul. 2005.
[15] M. Masiol and R. M. Harrison, “Aircraft engine exhaust emissions and other airport-related contributions to ambient air pollution: A review,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 95, pp. 409–455, Oct. 2014.
[16] International Civil Aviation Organization, Ed., Airport air quality manual, 1. ed. Montréal: International Civil Aviation Organization, 2011.
[17] A. S. Lourens et al., “Spatial and temporal assessment of gaseous pollutants in the Highveld of South Africa,” South African Journal of Science, vol. 107, no. 1/2, Jan. 2011.
[18] R. Moolla, S. K. Valsamakis, C. J. Curtis, and S. J. Piketh, “Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Benzene and Toluene at a landfill in Johannesburg, South Africa,” in Safety and Security Engineering V, Rome, Italy, 2013, pp. 701–713.
[19] R. Moolla, C. J. Curtis, and J. Knight, “BTEX concentrations influenced by external factors at a diesel-refuelling station in Johannesburg, South Africa,” 2014, pp. 1459–1467.
[20] R. Moolla, C. Curtis, and J. Knight, “Occupational Exposure of Diesel Station Workers to BTEX Compounds at a Bus Depot,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 4101–4115, Apr. 2015.
[21] A. Moore, M. A. Figliozzi, and C. M. Monsere, “An Empirical Study of Particulate Matter Exposure for Passengers Waiting at Bus Stop Shelters in Portland, Oregon, USA,” 2012.
[22] W. H. Organization and others, “WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide: global update 2005: summary of risk assessment,” 2006.
[23] B. Zabiega\la, M. Urbanowicz, K. Szymanska, and J. Namiesnik, “Application of passive sampling technique for monitoring of BTEX concentration in urban air: field comparison of different types of passive samplers,” Journal of chromatographic science, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 167–175, 2010.
[24] J. Roukos, N. Locoge, P. Sacco, and H. Plaisance, “Radial diffusive samplers for determination of 8-h concentration of BTEX, acetone, ethanol and ozone in ambient air during a sea breeze event,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 755–763, Jan. 2011.
[25] A. R. Maroko, “Using air dispersion modeling and proximity analysis to assess chronic exposure to fine particulate matter and environmental justice in New York City,” Applied Geography, vol. 34, pp. 533–547, May 2012.
[26] W. Laowagul, H. Garivait, W. Limpaseni, and K. Yoshizumi, “Ambient Air Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene in Bangkok, Thailand during April-August in 2007,” Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 14–25, Jun. 2008.
[27] J. G. Cerón-Bretón et al., “Diurnal and seasonal variation of BTEX in the air of Monterrey, Mexico: preliminary study of sources and photochemical ozone pollution,” Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 469–482, Oct. 2015.
[28] A. Monod, B. C. Sive, P. Avino, T. Chen, D. R. Blake, and F. Sherwood Rowland, “Monoaromatic compounds in ambient air of various cities: a focus on correlations between the xylenes and ethylbenzene,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 135–149, Jan. 2001.
[29] E. Gallego, F. X. Roca, X. Guardino, and M. G. Rosell, “Indoor and outdoor BTX levels in Barcelona City metropolitan area and Catalan rural areas,” Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 20, no. 9, pp. 1063–1069, 2008.
[30] Y. Zhang et al., “The pollution levels of BTEX and carbonyls under haze and non-haze days in Beijing, China,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 490, pp. 391–396, Aug. 2014.
[31] K. Badjagbo, S. Loranger, S. Moore, R. Tardif, and S. Sauvé, “BTEX Exposures among Automobile Mechanics and Painters and Their Associated Health Risks,” Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 301–316, Apr. 2010.
[32] A. Campos-Candel, M. Llobat-Estellés, and A. R. Mauri-Aucejo, “Desorption of BTEX from activated charcoal using accelerated solvent extraction: evaluation of occupational exposures,” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, vol. 387, no. 4, pp. 1517–1523, Feb. 2007.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:78412", author = "Raeesa Moolla and Ryan S. Johnson", title = "Spatial Distribution of Ambient BTEX Concentrations at an International Airport in South Africa", abstract = "Air travel, and the use of airports, has experienced proliferative growth in the past few decades, resulting in the concomitant release of air pollutants. Air pollution needs to be monitored because of the known relationship between exposure to air pollutants and increased adverse effects on human health. This study monitored a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); specifically BTEX (viz. benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylenes), as many are detrimental to human health. Through the use of passive sampling methods, the spatial variability of BTEX within an international airport was investigated, in order to determine ‘hotspots’ where occupational exposure to BTEX may be intensified. The passive sampling campaign revealed BTEXtotal concentrations ranged between 12.95–124.04 µg m-3. Furthermore, BTEX concentrations were dispersed heterogeneously within the airport. Due to the slow wind speeds recorded (1.13 m.s-1); the hotspots were located close to their main BTEX sources. The main hotspot was located over the main apron of the airport. Employees working in this area may be chronically exposed to these emissions, which could be potentially detrimental to their health.
", keywords = "Air pollution, air quality, hotspot monitoring, volatile organic compounds.", volume = "13", number = "2", pages = "43-8", }
