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Environ Sci Technol

Title:		"Highly elevated atmospheric levels of volatile organic compounds in the Uintah Basin, Utah"
Author(s):		Helmig D; Thompson CR; Evans J; Boylan P; Hueber J; Park JH;
Address:		"Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado , Boulder, Colorado 80309-0450, United States"
Journal Title:		Environ Sci Technol
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140414
Issue:		9
Page Number:		4707 - 4715
DOI:		10.1021/es405046r
ISSN/ISBN:		1520-5851 (Electronic) 0013-936X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Oil and natural gas production in the Western United States has grown rapidly in recent years, and with this industrial expansion, growing environmental concerns have arisen regarding impacts on water supplies and air quality. Recent studies have revealed highly enhanced atmospheric levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from primary emissions in regions of heavy oil and gas development and associated rapid photochemical production of ozone during winter. Here, we present surface and vertical profile observations of VOC from the Uintah Basin Winter Ozone Studies conducted in January-February of 2012 and 2013. These measurements identify highly elevated levels of atmospheric alkane hydrocarbons with enhanced rates of C2-C5 nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) mean mole fractions during temperature inversion events in 2013 at 200-300 times above the regional and seasonal background. Elevated atmospheric NMHC mole fractions coincided with build-up of ambient 1-h ozone to levels exceeding 150 ppbv (parts per billion by volume). The total annual mass flux of C2-C7 VOC was estimated at 194 +/- 56 x 10(6) kg yr(-1), equivalent to the annual VOC emissions of a fleet of approximately 100 million automobiles. Total annual fugitive emission of the aromatic compounds benzene and toluene, considered air toxics, were estimated at 1.6 +/- 0.4 x 10(6) and 2.0 +/- 0.5 x 10(6) kg yr(-1), respectively. These observations reveal a strong causal link between oil and gas emissions, accumulation of air toxics, and significant production of ozone in the atmospheric surface layer"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/*analysis Atmosphere/*chemistry Environmental Monitoring/methods Hydrocarbons/analysis Ozone/analysis Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet Utah Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis;"
Notes:		"MedlineHelmig, D Thompson, C R Evans, J Boylan, P Hueber, J Park, J-H eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/03/15 Environ Sci Technol. 2014 May 6; 48(9):4707-15. doi: 10.1021/es405046r. Epub 2014 Apr 14"