United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park. NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S2-88/041 Nov. 1988
4>EPA Project Summary
The Survey of Industrial Hazard
Anticipation Technology
Susan Coffey, William Yeager, and Shri Kulkarni
This report reviews currently
available technologies for monitoring
the operations of chemical
manufacturing and handling facilities
to detect airborne emissions of
hazardous chemicals before they
reach levels which pose an acute
hazard to public health. The Survey is
a first step toward providing
industrial planners and plant
managers with an overview of the
available monitoring techniques
which would aid them in designing
appropriate warning and safety
systems.
This Project Summary was
developed by EPA's Air and Energy
Engineering Research Laboratory,
Research Triangle Park, NC, to
announce key findings of the
research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of
the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
The Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory (AEERL) is
concerned with accidental releases of
hazardous chemicals as well as with
routine emissions of air pollutants.
Volatile organic compounds emitted from
hazardous waste disposal sites are also
of increasing concern. Chemical
detection systems which are able to
identify and monitor dynamic situations
where hazardous materials gradually
build up to dangerous levels may avert
major accidents by providing timely
warning to plant personnel. For major
industrial installations, some product-
specific monitoring systems have been
developed. Where appropriate moni-
toring techniques are not available,
research and development needs are to
be identified.
Approach
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has
reviewed the literature necessary to
identify typical chemicals of concern.
Several organizations have constructed
lists of hazardous chemicals based on
various criteria. Because resources
available to this project are finite, a few of
the most hazardous chemicals have been
selected as the basis for investigating
monitoring techniques. Eventually more
chemicals may be considered.
Results and Recommendations
Specific instrument methods for
detecting and quantifying airborne
chemicals are reviewed. For each
method, the results of a literature review
and discussions with manufacturers are
presented in a uniform format. This
format includes the principle of operation,
physical description, suggested
applications, performance data,
advantages and disadvantages. Ten
methods for detecting the 35 chemicals
specified by AEERL were examined.
These methods are identified in Table 1.
Research and development needs for
new methods to detect these chemicals
are also discussed.
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Susan Co/fey, William Yeager, and Shri Kulkarni are with Research Triangle
Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
D. Bruce Harris is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "The Survey of Industrial Hazard Anticipation
Technology," (Order No. PB 88-235 536/AS; Cost: $14.95, subject to
change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
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