Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch
The United States has experienced exceptional growth in oil production via unconventional extraction for over a decade. This boom has led to an increase in hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere. With Texas as the leading contributor to growing oil production, it is important to assess the effects...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/241 |
| _version_ | 1818188457808232448 |
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| author | Olivia M. Sablan Gunnar W. Schade Joel Holliman |
| author_facet | Olivia M. Sablan Gunnar W. Schade Joel Holliman |
| author_sort | Olivia M. Sablan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The United States has experienced exceptional growth in oil production via unconventional extraction for over a decade. This boom has led to an increase in hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere. With Texas as the leading contributor to growing oil production, it is important to assess the effects the boom has had on the environment and communities at local and regional levels. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the use of passive samplers for evaluating potential off-site risk from hydrocarbon emissions in a relatively low production activity area of the Texas Eagle Ford shale. Emissions from production sites include benzene, a hazardous air pollutant and known carcinogen. Passive hydrocarbon sampling devices (Radiello samplers) were used to monitor hydrocarbon levels on a rural property near a production site with an occasional flare for one year. Selected hydrocarbons were analyzed using thermal desorption and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Benzene concentrations were found to be correlated with changes in season, with higher abundance in the winter months. Benzene levels at this site were similar or higher than those observed in urban areas, away from shale oil and gas production. Increased benzene concentrations were distinguished when winds advected hydrocarbons from the production site, suggesting that oil and gas site emissions have a greater impact on the local community when winds advect them towards those living downwind; however, hydrocarbon levels in this low production area never exceeded state air monitoring comparison standards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:27:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cb66b38c30534eacb5aed0515c638051 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T23:27:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-cb66b38c30534eacb5aed0515c6380512022-12-22T00:46:08ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-02-0111324110.3390/atmos11030241atmos11030241Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil PatchOlivia M. Sablan0Gunnar W. Schade1Joel Holliman2Department of Chemistry, Carroll College; 1601 N Benton Ave. MT 59625, Helena, MT, USADepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University; TX 77843, College Station, TX, USADepartment of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University; TX 77843, College Station, TX, USAThe United States has experienced exceptional growth in oil production via unconventional extraction for over a decade. This boom has led to an increase in hydrocarbon emissions to the atmosphere. With Texas as the leading contributor to growing oil production, it is important to assess the effects the boom has had on the environment and communities at local and regional levels. We conducted a pilot study to investigate the use of passive samplers for evaluating potential off-site risk from hydrocarbon emissions in a relatively low production activity area of the Texas Eagle Ford shale. Emissions from production sites include benzene, a hazardous air pollutant and known carcinogen. Passive hydrocarbon sampling devices (Radiello samplers) were used to monitor hydrocarbon levels on a rural property near a production site with an occasional flare for one year. Selected hydrocarbons were analyzed using thermal desorption and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Benzene concentrations were found to be correlated with changes in season, with higher abundance in the winter months. Benzene levels at this site were similar or higher than those observed in urban areas, away from shale oil and gas production. Increased benzene concentrations were distinguished when winds advected hydrocarbons from the production site, suggesting that oil and gas site emissions have a greater impact on the local community when winds advect them towards those living downwind; however, hydrocarbon levels in this low production area never exceeded state air monitoring comparison standards.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/241passive samplinghydrocarbonsexposureshale oil productionair pollution |
| spellingShingle | Olivia M. Sablan Gunnar W. Schade Joel Holliman Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch Atmosphere passive sampling hydrocarbons exposure shale oil production air pollution |
| title | Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch |
| title_full | Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch |
| title_fullStr | Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch |
| title_full_unstemmed | Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch |
| title_short | Passively Sampled Ambient Hydrocarbon Abundances in a Texas Oil Patch |
| title_sort | passively sampled ambient hydrocarbon abundances in a texas oil patch |
| topic | passive sampling hydrocarbons exposure shale oil production air pollution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/3/241 |
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