Additional Air Monitoring in Paterson Study (AAMPS): Research Project Summary
Date
2012-01
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Trenton, N.J. : Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research
Abstract
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) awarded funding to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for an additional year of air toxics monitoring in Paterson City, N.J. to follow up on findings from the Urban Community Air Toxics Monitoring Project, Paterson City, NJ (UCAMPP) study conducted during 2005-2006. In the earlier study, temporarily elevated levels of p-dichlorobenzene at one (176 Broadway) of the three monitoring locations in Paterson resulted in community concerns about the possible long-term implications of this exposure. The Additional Air Monitoring in Paterson Study’s (AAMPS) main purpose was to determine if concentrations of p-dichlorobenzene would become elevated again or if this excursion was an isolated event. A secondary goal of the project was to obtain more information on the sources of an additional six air toxics, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chloromethane and tetrachloroethylene, that were found to be above the health benchmark during UCAMPP. The majority of the risk associated with these air toxics is primarily from mobile sources. These chemicals are generally elevated throughout New Jersey. AAMPS air toxics monitoring occurred from April 2010 through May 2011. Two types of air samples were collected; vacuum canisters were analyzed by the USEPA TO-15 method and Organic Vapor Monitors were used for spatial saturation sampling. Concentrations and associated risks observed during AAMPS were very similar to those observed during UCAMPP and also similar to those observed in other areas in New Jersey. In contrast to UCAMPP, no elevation in p-dichlorobenzene was observed compared to background levels. None of the facilities adjacent to 176 Broadway used pdichlorobenzene, even in small quantities. The investigation by NJDEP’s Compliance and Enforcement program area identified nine potential sources of p-dichlorobenzene in and around Paterson. Of these nine potential sources, one was located in Clifton but it was too far away and the prevailing wind direction on days in 2006 with elevated levels precluded this company as the source, four other facilities did not use/make p-dichlorobenzene and four other facilities had closed and there were no records available. Based upon the investigation by NJDEP’s Compliance and Enforcement program area, on-the-ground knowledge of the facilities by NJDEP inspectors and prevailing wind direction, the most likely source would have been Galaxy Chemical. This facility shut down and no records are available from 2006. Thus, there is a good possibility that the source of the p-dichlorobenzene no longer exists. The spatial saturation sampling did not reveal any patterns that could be associated with sources.
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Keywords
Air - Pollution - New Jersey - Paterson