NATIONAL AIR TOXICS INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE NEWSLETTER &EFA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards Volume 5 Number 3 Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711 March 1988 State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Adminis Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials fl State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators IN THIS ISSUE CLEARINGHOUSE ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR REMAINDER OF FY 88 1 STATE/LOCAL AGENCY SPOTLIGHT! MONTEREY BAY USING RULE 1000 PERMIT GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW AND MODIFIED TOXICS SOURCES 2 BAY AREA ACCELERATES AIR TOXICS PROGRAM, PROPOSES CHROMIUM RULE 4 NEW JERSEY PROPOSES RULES FOR NATION'S FIRST CHEMICAL ACCIDENT PREVENTION LEGISLATION 6 ONTARIO INITIATES AIR TOXICS ASSESSMENT 7 DAYTON, OHIO, AGENCY CONSIDERS NATIONAL PARTICULATE NETWORK DATA 7 CONTROL TECHNOLOGY CENTER - UPDATE 8 HOUSTON REGIONAL MONITORING PROGRAM NOW INCLUDES SPECIATED VOCs 10 AIR TOXICS WORKSHOPS PLANNED 10 OAOPS PUBLISHES TOXIC AIR EMISSION REPORT FOR BENZENE 11 CLEARINGHOUSE ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR REMAINDER OF FY 88 NATICH Updates and Demonstration Disk Development Underway The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse has outlined work that will be performed throughout the remainder of this fiscal year. This will include the development of improved report programs for the on-line data biase, NATICH, and the development of a demonstration diskette. One new on-line report program will allow users to interactively specify complex search criteria for the source test data contained in NATICH. This program will be similar to the permit report program developed last year, allowing a user to sort the data by source category [using Standard Industrial Classifica- tion (SIC) Codes], by pollutant (using pollutant name or Chemical Abstract Services number), andlor by the year the permit was issued or the source test was conducted. In addition, improved programs will allow users to sort permit and source test data for specific source categories by 2,3, or 4-digit SIC codes and whether or not the permit or source test was designated as notable by the agency that submitted the information. The Clearinghouse is developing a personal computer-based floppy diskette that will demonstrate the types of data and retrieval options available through the on-line data base. It is scheduled for distribution in July. For more information, contact John Vandenberg at (919) 541-0850 or (FTS) 629-0850. Annual Data Collection Forms Distributed The Clearinghouse annual data collection forms were distributed by STAPPA and ALAPCO to the direc- tor of each State and local air pollution control agency at the end of February. The forms request new and up- dated information for inclusion in NATICH. A major change was made this year to the information requested on the regulatory programs of State and local agencies. This year, the "Yes/No" question/response format was replaced by a "Current/Future/No" format that will yield a more comprehensive understanding of regulatory pro- grams. It is essential that all agencies submit this revised regulatory program information (Form 2), since the Clearinghouse plans to consider all previous Form 2 data as obsolete in June 1988. In addition, State and local agencies may now submit information on the status of ongoing research and regulatory development proj- ects. To submit this information, complete Form 8. If you have any questions about the forms or methods for responding to the questionnaires, contact the Clear- ------- inghouse staff at (919) 541-0850 or (FTS) 629-0850. Risk Communication Explored In Special Report The Clearinghouse will publish a special report ear- ly this summer on risk communication. The purpose of this report is to describe the experiences of State and local air programs in communicating the results of risk assessments to the public. This should be helpful to State and local agencies that are beginning to undertake quantitative cancer risk assessments. The report will present case studies on risk communication efforts undertaken by Puget Sound (Washington) Air Pollution Control Agency, the San Diego County (California) Air Pollution Control District, and Maryland's Department of the Environment. Each case study will briefly describe the source, the risk assessment approach and the results of the risk assessment. The report will also discuss the characterization of risk assessment results, the process for communicating risk and each agency's evaluation of their risk communication effort. For more information, contact Karen Blanchard at (919) 541-5503 or (FTS) 629-5503. STATE/LOCAL AGENCY SPC MONTEREY BAY USING l?U PERMIT GUIDELINES AND NEW AND MODIFIED TOXI By L. D. Odle, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollutlo In 1985, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Con- trol District (the District) established regulatory guidance for toxic air contaminants (TACs), by adopting Rule 1000, Guidelines and Requirements for New and Modified Sources Emitting Toxic Air Contaminants. Rule 1000 pro- vides guidance to the District staff, industry, and the public on the evaluation and permitting of stationary sources of TACs. It is based on the following premises: • that the public has the right to know the bases for the issuance or denial of permits for sources of TACs; • that permit applicants need a clear understanding of the permit procedures and data requirements; • the District needs to ensure consistency in the per- mit evaluation process; and • that control technology that clearly exists for reduc- ing stack emissions of TACs should be applied to appropriate sources. Rule lOOO Outlined The purposes of Rule 1000 are: • to prevent, to the maximum extent practicable, the emission into the atmosphere within the District of TACs, which may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious illness, or which may pose a present or potential hazard to human health; and • to prevent occurrences which may endanger the health and welfare of the public within the District and to assure that no person will suffer material im- pairment of health or functional capacity. Part 2 of Rule 1000 - Assumptions, Determinations, and the Use of Data - defines terms and assumptions used and identifies the use of appropriate data. It should yruGHTt ILE lOOO - REQUIREMENTS FOR CS SOURCES n Control District assure consistency in the evaluation of permit applica- tions. Provisions for exposure determinations incorporate firm guidelines for the monitoring and modeling of source emissions to determine the maximum point of im- pact and pollutant concentrations at the facility property line. Modeling is the primary tool used to determine ambient pollutant concentrations. Simple Gaussian dispersion models, as found in the EPA Users Network for Applied Modeling of Air Pollutants (UNAMAP) series are often used. Other models may be used on a case- by-case basis. A number of issues create significant uncertainty in ambient monitoring of TACs; therefore, Rule 1000 does not rely solely on this mechanism for estimating public exposures. Problems include the inability of current monitoring techniques to accurately and regularly moni- tor concentrations of concern; high costs; and the in- ability to extrapolate the monitoring data, that is, the data reflect only one specific location whose microgeographic meteorology may vary considerably and frequently. Rule 1000 requires that all emission points from the facility be addressed, including those traditionally termed "fugitive." TACs may often be reactive, undergo alterations in the atmosphere or within the facility opera- tions, or become entrained in a company's product. The reaction intermediates or other fates of the emitted substance are to be considered in the permit evaluation. If the intermediates cannot be adequately addressed, the evaluator must assume a worst-case point of emis- sion. Although introduced to the atmospheric environ- ment in gaseous, liquid particulate, vapor or aerosol form, all subsequent modes of environmental entrain- ment of the substance are to be taken into account in the source assessment. - 2 ------- Rule Supports State's Policies for Noncardnogenlc and Carcinogenic TACs Rule 1000 itemizes assumptions used in potency and toxicity determinations. In the Rule, the toxic nature of substances considered to be threshold toxicants is assumed to be reflected by occupational standards, where reliable data to the contrary are not available. Listed in Rule 1000, then, are the permissible exposure limits (PELs) developed by the California Occupational Safety and Health Agency and published in the Califor- nia Administrative Code (Title 8), and the threshold limit values (TLVs) published by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists(ACGIH). During the process of adopting Rule 1000, the applicability of occupational limits to ambient exposures of TACs was extensively discussed. These limits, however, represent the most complete listing of quantified acceptable ex- posure levels available. The use of acceptable occupational levels occurs in the Rule 1000 regulatory scheme because they are: • based on years of research data using both animal and human studies; • used by other regulatory agencies, particularly other State agencies; and • readily available. For TACs deemed potential carcinogens (CTACs), Rule 1000 applies limits which follow closely the policies of the California Department of Health Services (CDOHS). This assumes that substances that are suspected CTACs exhibit no threshold for carcinogenic action. In other words, unlike many TACs, CTACs are assumed to have no "safe" levels of exposure. This con- servative assumption is prudent in light of the mechanistic principles of carcinogenesis. In fact, in the currently accepted mechanism for carcinogenesis, most agents are assumed to have similar cellular etiology. Because the frequency of tumorgenesis and the time- to-tumor are tied to exposure amounts, the TACs in ques- tion are assumed to add to the biological burden already in existence for the organism. Therefore, in considering a facility that emits a suspected CTAC, the risk associated with these emissions is assumed to be above the normal background. The lack of threshold or safe ex- posure level for carcinogens has been assumed as a basic principle in the proposed regulatory programs of many regulatory agencies. As of 1985, EPA as well as 16 of 44 State agencies with existing or developing air toxic programs incorporated cancer risk assessment techniques. For CTACs, exposure assessment is a primary com- ponent in the risk assessment process. The two primary assumptions, itemized in Rule 1000, are: • that the population affected remains in place for 70 years (lifetime); and • that the exposure to the pollutant concentration occurs without deviation over 70 continuous years. For different models, these assumptions may be modified, but the basic conservative premise of a lifetime of continuous exposure remains. Rule Defines Control Technologies Part 3 - Definitions of Rule 1000 - defines terms used in the rule. Among these definitions are two types of con- trol technology: Best Available Control Technology (BACT) and Feasible Control Technology (FCT). The BACT definition is identical to that contained in the District's New Source Review rule, Rule 207 (Review of New or Modified Sources). FCT differs from BACT in that it need not be proven by use. This level of control is included to motivate the development and use of controls that are workable but are not currently in use on the applicant's source category. Because the control mechanisms for TACs are so much more diverse than those for criteria pollutants, the use of state-of-the-art equipment to control many of the pollutants is uncommon. This does not mean, however, that the permit applicant may avoid respon- sibility for polluting simply because the source may be unique. Of particular importance in Part 3 are the definition and list of CTACs. This definition is based substantially on the CDOHS Carcinogen Policy as are the 25 poten- tial CTACs listed. Similarly, these 25 compounds are referenced by evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experi- mental animals in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1972-1983). These compounds are also considered by the California Air Resources Board to be "... compounds of significant concern in Califor- nia... with ... sufficient information available to pursue listing as Toxic Air Contaminants (with) no significant ad- ditional information pending ..." BACT and Compliance with Ambient Level Required for TAC Emissions Part 4 - Requirements - sets forth the requirements expected of the applicant. The basic requirements for TACs considered to have a safe level of exposure (threshold toxicants) are: • installation of BACT; • average emission concentration limits of 1/420th of the PEL on an annual basis; • limits at least equal to the PEL in any 15 minute con- tinuous period; and • submittal of a Pollutant Status Report that discusses the TAC and control technology to be used and identifies alternate compounds and con- trol technology. The adjusted PEL limits incorporate uncertainty fac- tors and are patterned after those in New York's Air Guide-1. The annual average factor includes the conver- sion constant of the 8-hour, 5-day week occupational 3 ------- standard to ambient (168 hours per week) exposure and the application of an uncertainty factor of 100. Such uncertainty factors are frequently used when little is known about the effects of pollutant exposure, as is the case with sensitive populations, such as the elderly, children, fetuses, and those with existing health problems. Occupational standards are based strictly on exposure of a particular pollutant to a healthy adult. Another unknown item in using uncertainty factors is the difference in atmospheric behavior between the indoor workplace environment and ambient air. Indoor pollutant concentrations can be relatively well defined since most workplace environments have artificially controlled air exchanges that can be accurately calculated. By com- parison, ambient conditions are subject to great vari- ability, which can only be roughly estimated at best. BACT and Risk Level Required for CTAC Emissions The rule is based on the assumption that CTACs do not have acceptable threshold values. The basic re- quirements of CTACs in Rule 1000 are: • installation of BACT; • acceptable cancer risk of one incidence per 100,000 persons exposed, demonstrated in a risk assessment; • CTAC emission limit of 1/420th PEL or the PEL for a 15-minute averaging period; and • submittal of an updated CTAC Pollutant Status Report each successive fifth year for the life of the facility. Pollutants that are deemed CTACs are evaluated using risk assessment techniques. Additionally, CTACs are evaluated for toxic effects other than cancer. The limits resulting from risk assessment are based on long- term (70 years) exposure and are patterned after the cur- rent accepted principles of the mechanism of cancer: latency, permanent heritable cellular changes, multi- step, etc. Toxicity, on the other hand, is concerned with the gross effects of a pollutant at the organ level; loss of cells is of importance only when an organ or system function is affected. Toxicity effects are not inheritable or significant at the single cell level. Permanent degrada- tion occurs through direct destruction of masses of cells. Underthe rule, every five years, sources emitting CTACs are to submit a Pollutant Status Report that reviews the risk assessment parameters and methods for further control. This requirement can be waived if the emissions are of insignificant hazard and little would be gained by the preparation of such a report. The last part of Rule 1000, Part 5, is a list of poten- tial TACs and acceptable ambient limits. Since the control of TACs is a dynamic regulatory arena, Rule 1000 cannot address all pollutants from all sources for all possible situations. Rather, the Rule lays out regulatory guidelines to allow most emission sources and the public a workable approach toward healthy co- existence. Toward that end, Rule 1000 has functioned admirably since its adoption in early 1985. Rule 1000 Challenged In Court Rule 1000 is currently before the California Appellate Court. After the Rule's adoption, the District was sued by the Western Oil and Gas Association on the grounds that the State program (AB 1807) preempted the District from adopting any toxic regulations until after the State acted. The lower court held in favor of the District on all accounts. The Appellate Court is expected to release a decision shortly. Questions regarding this report may be addressed to L. D. Odle, Executive Officer, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, at (408) 443-1135. BAY AREA ACCELERATES PROPOSES CHROMIUM RU In 1986, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) launched a major program for the San Francisco Bay Region to reduce risk from exposure to ambient levels of toxic air contaminants* This program complements existing Federal and State activities aimed at reducing risks from toxic air contaminants. California's air toxics legislation (AB1807) requires that the Air Resources Board (CARB) develop control measures cooperatively with local districts for pollutants CARB has designated as toxic air contaminants.** Once CARB approves an Air Toxics Control Measure (ATCM), the districts then have 6 months in which to adopt a rule or regulation for existing sources within the source category addressed by the control measure. Local districts must adopt regulations no less stringent than *IR TOXICS PROGRAM, LE those adopted by CARB. The CARB process has not proceeded as quickly as originally hoped. To address the growing concern about exposures to toxic air contaminants, the BAAQMD Board of Directors adopted a resolution on December 2,1987, to expand and accelerate the BAAQMD's pro- gram to control toxic air contaminants. This accelerated seven-point program is aimed at identifying air toxics hot spots as soon as possible, and then mitigating the responsible emissions if they are likely to cause adverse health effects. After hearing testimony from residents living in an alleged toxic hot spot and holding a public meeting in the area, the BAAQMD Board of Directors expressed concern for the need to hasten the process by which air 4 ------- toxic hot spots are identified and mitigated. The accelerated program has these seven points: 1. Implement the Connelly Bill*** (AB 2588) require- ments for identifying air toxic hot spots as rapidly as possible, working with the CARB and the State Department of Health Services. 2. Develop regulations consistent with the priority and schedule identified in Table 1. 3. Request the Contra Costa County Health Depart- ment to immediately survey the North Rich- mond/Parchester Village area for toxic related disease and cancer. 4. Institute or continue hot spot monitoring as hot spots are revealed via the Connelly process, or through other means. 5. Continue present process of monitoring hot spots that have been identified. 6. Continue methylene chloride and ethylene oxide rule development per the schedule presented in Table 1. 7. Where hot spot monitoring reveals pollutant levels that could cause adverse health effects to residents in the area, initiate appropriate steps to mitigate the emissions, after consultation with the appropriate State and local health officials. BAAQMD Proposes Hexavalent Chromium Rule In February, BAAQMD proposed a rule that would reduce emissions of hexavalent chromium from the af- fected sources by at least 97 percent. The District's pro- posed rule is modeled on the CARB's draft Air Toxic Con- trol Measure (ATCM) developed under the procedure mandated by AB 1807. The sources covered in the BAAQMD proposed rule are decorative chrome plating, hard chrome plating, and chromic acid anodizing. Hexavalent chromium, in the form of chromic acid mist, is emitted from these sources. In chrome plating, an electric current is applied to a work piece in a plating bath of chromic acid. This converts the hexavalent chromium to a metallic chromium coating. This process is not very efficient. Most of the electrical energy results in the breaking up of water molecules in the plating bath, producing hydrogen and oxygen gases. As these bubbles break the surface of the chromic acid plating bath, a chromic acid mist (or aerosol) is emitted. For decorative chrome plating, the BAAQMD proposed rule requires that emissions from the plating tanks be reduced by 95 percent through the use of a mist suppres- sant, a layer of plastic balls, or an equivalent method approved by the Air Pollution Control Officer. Operators of decorative chrome plating tanks must submit a description of the method they intend to use to comply with the requirement. The BAAQMD and CARB staffs will review these systems and hope to be able to approve chemical systems on a generic basis. Acceptable ranges of operating parameters will be specified in the BAAQMD operating permit. For hard chrome plating and acid anodizing, the proposed rule requires that hexavalent chromium emis- sions be controlled to certain specified levels. These levels are expressed in units of emission per amp-hr of current used. The emission cutoffs triggering required levels of control are based on certain "natural" break- points observed within the industry. The CARB has col- lected information from around the State and has observed that affected facilities may be classified into three size categories. These size categories are reflected in the cutoffs specified in Section 11-8-310 of the BAAQMD proposed rule. The allowable emission rates reflect the application of currently available technology. Each of the emission rates represents a quantum step in stringency, with only very large facilities triggering the final level of controls. The CARB engineers have based these emission rates on test data collected in California's South Coast Air Quality Management District and the San Diego Air Pollution Control District. Small facilities will be able to comply using demisters or low-pressure-drop packed bed scrubbers. Medium-sized facilities will be required to use low-pressure-drop packed bed scrubbers in com- bination with demisters. Large facilities may be required to use higher-pressure-drop scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, or other high efficiency control devices. Process modifications, including changes to the ventila- tion systems, may also be necessary in many cases. Demisters are static baffles or pads placed across the mist-laden air stream. They will remove 99 and greater percent of mist from gas streams in certain ap- plications. The collection efficiency is relatively poor, however, for particles with diameters of less than 2 microns. Most scrubbers used to control plating tank emis- sions are packed bed scrubbers. The packing acts similar to a mesh pad demister, capturing the mist par- ticles as the gas stream flows in the tortuous path through the bed. In a scrubber, however, the packing is continuously wetted by recirculating water. Often a demister is added at the scrubber outlet to capture any water droplets entrained in the exiting gas. Wet scrub- bers are expected to be somewhat superior to demisters in removing small mist particles. Other industries have achieved higher control effi- ciencies. For example, the sulfuric acid industry has achieved control up to 99.8 percent through the use of electrostatic precipitators. These control devices are ex- pected to be compatible with plating operations and emissions, although never demonstrated in this service. An operator may have to make process changes, such as ventilation system modifications, to reach the required emission rate for large platers. The BAAQMD estimates that the proposed rule will result in an average annual cost of from $9,000 for the smallest emitting shops to $350,000 for the largest emit- ting shops. 5 ------- For more information on the BAAQMD program, contact Steve Hill, Manager, Toxics Evaluation Section at (415) 771-6000, extension 233. *See article in December 1986 Newsletter, pages 3-4. **See related articles in May 1985 Newsletter, page 6, and December 1984 Newsletter, pages 3-5. 'Briefly, the Connelly Bill requires facilities that manu- facture, formulate, use, release or have the potential to release from a specific list to compile emissions inventory data and submit it to local districts. The Districts use these data to assess the potential risk posed to the public. Table 1. Bay Area Air Quality Management District Control of Potentially Toxic Air Contaminants - Proposed Program Schedule Source Category1 Compound Activity Quarter of Workshop Chrome Plating Chromium, Hexavalent2 Rule 1st of 88 Comfort Cooling Towers Chromium, Hexavalent2 Rule 1st of 88 Demolition Asbestos2 Enforcement 2nd of 88 Hospital Sterilizers Ethylene Oxide Rule 3rd of 88 Fumigation Ethylene Oxide Rule 1st of 89 Drycleaners (Dry to Dry Machines) Perchloroethylene Rule 3rd of 89 Quarried Serpentine Asbestos2 Rule 4th of 89 Secondary Smelters Cadmium2 Rule 4th of 89 Degreasers Methylene Chloride Rule 1st of 90 Hospital Incinerators Dioxins2 Rule 3rd of 90 Residential Wood Combustion PAH Rule 1st of 91 Sources of Atmospheric Formaldehyde Formaldehyde Research 1st of 91 1 The relative order of the proposed control measure actions is based upon the following considerations: potential public health impact, availability of toxicity data and controllability of sources. Some control measure proposals have been moved up in the schedule due to expected action by the CARB. 2Denotes CARB identified Toxic Air Contaminant. NEW JERSEY PROPOSES RULES FOR NATION'S FIRST CHEMICAL ACCIDENT PREVENTION LEGISLATION By Allan T. Edwards, Chief, Bureau of Release Prevention, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protec- tion (DEP) has developed an innovative program to pre- vent a catastrophic accidental release of extraordinarily hazardous substances into the environment. The impetus of this program was the New Jersey Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA), the first mandatory accidental release prevention law in the United States. This program was signed into law in January 1986* The program is designed to require any facility in the State having an Extraordinarily Hazardous Substance (EHS) in an amount greater than its repor- table quantity to have an established Risk Management Program (RMP). An RMP is the sum total of programs for the purpose of minimizing extraordinarily hazardous substance accident risks. It includes requirements for: — safety review of the design of new and existing equipment; — standard operating procedures; — preventive maintenance programs; — operator training and accident investigation procedures; — risk assessment for specific pieces of equipment or operating alternatives; — emergency response planning; and — internal or external audit procedures to ensure pro- grams are being administered as planned. The TCPA is being administered by the DEP's Bureau of Release Prevention. This Bureau has been staffed to manage the TCPA program effectively. A 6 ------- subgroup consisting of chemical safety engineers has been formed that will be instrumental in the operations of the Bureau. These professionals bring with them a wide variety of experience in the design and operation of the chemical and allied industries. Currently, over 800 facilities have registered under the TCPA as having greater than the reportable quantity of an EHS. These consist of 225 chemical facilities, 291 potable water treatment plants and 288 wastewater plants. One hundred ninety-three of the chemical facilities and 340 of the potable and wastewater treat- ment plants stated that they have an existing RMP. The Bureau proposed regulations in the September 21,1987, issue of the New Jersey Register to implement the TCPA program. These regulations include: the framework, practices, and procedures of the TCPA pro- gram, the minimum requirements for a RMP, and a generic extraordinarily hazardous substance risk reduc- tion work plan to be used by those facilities that do not have a Risk Management Program. An expanded list of EHSs is also included in the regulations. The Act originally listed 11 EHSs; 94 are proposed to be added to this list. These substances have been selected based on volatility and toxicity. A fee schedule has also been proposed, since the Act stated that the TCPA program must be self-supporting. Confidentiality regulations have also been prepared and were proposed in the February 16,1988, New Jersey Register. According to Neil P. Mulvey, Assistant Director for the Department's Release Prevention and Emergency Response element, "The regulations being presented represent a win-win situation for all parties involved. First of all, New Jersey's public gains by the added assurance that the risk of death or injury from a catastrophic chemi- cal accident will be decreased to the lowest possible level. Additionally, it has been shown in several studies that the proper use of hazard analysis and risk assess- ment procedures can reduce the accidental shutdown and startup, resulting in immediate benefits to the facility." For additional information about the status of the TCPA program, contact Allan T. Edwards, Chief of the Bureau of Release Prevention at (609) 633-7289. *See related article in September 1986 Newsletter, pages 5-6. ONTARIO INITIATES AIR T The provincial government of Ontario has em- barked on air toxics studies in several areas, including development of a regulatory strategy for Ontario and comprehensive assessments of toxic chemicals. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OME) is compiling an Air Monitoring Archives of Toxic Substances for On- tario and the remainder of eastern North America. Air monitoring studies, terrestrial and aquatic studies, and wet and dry deposition studies are being conducted to quantify toxic chemical levels in Ontario. The ambient toxics monitoring network commencing this year will entail weekly sampling at 30 stations across Ontario. The target list of compounds includes 140 species of volatile organic compounds and 40 to 50 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Dioxins and furans also will be included. Trace metals have been monitored as part of the par- ticulate monitoring system for the past 15 years; much of these data will be included as well. Specifically, the toxic pollutants of interest are: volatile organochlorines, benzene, mono/diaromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, respirable particles, arsenic, mercury, nickel, cadmium, lead, and pesticides. In addition, emissions inventories of toxic com- OXICS ASSESSMENT pounds are being compiled and mesoscale dispersion models (both short and long-term) are being developed. These short and long-term dispersion models will be used to describe and predict the behavior and impact of toxic contaminants in the atmosphere. The predictive modeling and regulatory activities require a comprehen- sive compilation of all relevant air toxics data for an area that reaches beyond provincial boundaries. In addition, ambient concentration data and related toxics informa- tion for areas outside of Ontario will be needed for com- parative analyses. Specifically, the task at hand entails contacting scientists involved in air toxics monitoring across the United States and Canada, seeking their cooperation in providing air toxics monitoring data. The project is under the direction of Chris Fung of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment [(416) 235-5770J. Concord Scientific Cor- poration has been contracted to compile the air toxics archive for the North American continent. Anyone interested in participating in this informa- tion exchange may contact Margot Brideau, Concord Scientific Corporation, 2 Tippett Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 2V2, (416) 630-6331. DAYTON, OHIO, AGENCY C PARTICULATE NETWORK I For many years, the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA), representing six counties around IONSIDERS NATIONAL )ATA Dayton, Ohio, has been including data from filters placed at a downtown Dayton monitoring site in a U.S. EPA 7 ------- metals analysis program. This study is part of the Na- tional Particulate Network (NPN). One filter is submitted every 12 days. The current interest in toxics has highlighted the value of these analyses for use by local agencies. The NPN data can be useful for addressing several general questions: — What are the trends in ambient air metals? — What are the sources? — What are the average and maximum concentrations? — What are the risks associated with these concentrations? Trends Explored For 1980 through July 1986, apparent trends on RAPCA's graphs of the annual averages have been dramatically higher for iron and manganese; lower for copper, lead and TSP; and slightly higher for cobalt. Trend determination for other metals is not possible because levels were below, or obscured by, noise levels in the filters. While the downward lead trend is easily traced to unleaded gasoline, the reason for the other trends is less easily identified. Iron and manganese, in particular, are puzzling. A 1981 study of local TSP filters by the Brehm Laboratory of Wright State University showed iron and manganese with a high correlation, as did RAPCA's analysis of the NPN data (r = 0.91). Both pollutants also exhibit mark- ed seasonality, with peaks in April through June, and depressions in October through December. The Brehm Laboratory report suggests both pollutants are also bimodal. These data suggest that there are two common sources or source groups for the two metals. Possible sources for RAPCA's site are foundries, coal burning facilities, and incinerators. Pollutant Concentrations and Associated Risks Presented Listed below are the 7-year average concentrations for each pollutant, except where a trend seemed clear. In such cases, the most recent annual average is given as being more representative. Unit risk factors from EPA are also listed. Multiplying the average concentrations by the unit risk factors, RAPCA has estimated lifetime individual cancer risks resulting from exposure to metal concentrations represented by the NPN averages. Individual Element Average ug/m3* Annual Type Unit Risk per ug/m3 Lifetime Risk per Million Arsenic 0.0036 7-yr 4.3 x 10"3 15 x 10-e Barium 0.2001 7-yr NA - Beryllium 0.1059* 7-yr 2.4 x 10"3 0.25 x 10-6 Cadmium 0.0015 7-yr 1.8 x 10-3 2.7 x 10-6 Chromium(VI) 0.0082 7-yr 1.2 x 10-2 98 x 10-6 Cobalt 0.0009 7-yr NA -- Copper 0.1028 7-yr NA - Iron 1.5300 last yr NA - Manganese 0.0303 last yr NA - Molybdenum 0.0031 7-yr NA - Nickel 0.0064 7-yr 2.4 x 10"4 1.5 x 10-6 Lead 0.0848 last yr NA .. Vanadium 0.0032 7-yr NA - Zinc 0.1133 last yr NA - Cumulative: 117 x 10-6 NA means not applicable. These metals are not recognized as carcinogens. 'Beryllium units are: nanograms/m3, all others are ug/m3. Note that the cumulative figure represents an upper bound. That is, the cumulative individual lifetime cancer risk for exposure to just arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and nickel is at most 117 in a million. Popula- tion risks cannot be estimated as the representativeness of this site has yet to be determined. Conclusions Reached A simple analysis shows that the upper bound of the cumulative individual lifetime cancer risk associated with just the metals arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, and nickel is on the order of 117 chances out of a million. Although this is an upper bound, RAPCA considers this risk sufficiently large to warrant further investigation. RAPCA plans to pursue the search for an explana- tion of the metals trends at the NPN site. Furthermore, RAPCA will attempt to expand the metals analysis pro- gram for the Dayton area. The representativeness of this single site needs to be determined. Cooperative efforts with local universities have been proposed and appear to be imminent. Reported EPA studies of NPN data seem to deal only with aggregate national statistics. RAPCA en- courages State and local agencies to analyze their NPN data on a site-specific basis. For further information on RAPCA's toxics work, contact Andrew Lindstrom, Regional Air Pollution Con- trol Agency, Montgomery County (Ohio) Combined Health District, (513) 225-4898. CONTROL TECHNOLOGY CENTER - UPDATE Response to the Control Technology Center's (CTC) efforts to strengthen the HOTLINE operation has been rewarding.* About 40 requests for assistance were received in January, more than double the monthly average during 1987. Staff in EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory responded to these requests at no charge. In January, CTC representatives presented a sum- mary of the CTC programs, including the HOTLINE, and 8 ------- demonstrated the Control of Air Toxics Advisory System at an Air Pollution Training Institute course on permitting. The HOTLINE received several requests for assistance as a result of this effort. Also during January, the CTC sent a list of questions to its STAPPA/ALAPCO work- group for use in collecting information on HOTLINE effectiveness. This workgroup will be contacting about one-quarter of the State and local (S/L) agencies who used the HOTLINE in 1987. In addition, the CTC has begun to automate the HOTLINE'S tracking system to help in processing S/L requests for assistance. CTC Active In Test Protocol, Air Toxics Control, Workshops, Infectious Waste Incinerators The CTC has the following projects underway: • Interim MWC Test Protocol - This cooperative effort between the CTC, NESCAUM, and the State of Con- necticut to develop an interim municipal waste com- bustor (MWC) sampling protocol is complete. With the protocol scheduled for printing in late March, now is the time for requesting this useful document. The title is "Recommended Guidelines for Stack Testing at Municipal Waste Combustor Facilities." This document can be ordered by calling Sharon Nolen at (919) 541-7607 or (FTS) 629-7607. The document is available to S/L agencies at no charge. • Advisory System for Control of Air Toxics (CAT) - The CTC, in cooperation with the State of New Jersey's Division of Environmental Quality, has developed a computer program that assists permit engineers in reviewing applications that regulate air toxics. The software automates many of the calculations found in the Hazardous Air Pollutant manual (EPA Publication No. 625/6-86-014, "Control Technolo- gies for Hazardous Air Pollutants") and will be usable on IBM-compatible PC systems. You can ob- tain a copy of the software, the instructional text "Controlling Air Toxics - Advisory System," and the HAP manual by calling Sharon Nolen at (919) 541-7607 or (FTS) 629-7607. These documents are available to S/L agencies at no charge. • Workshops - The CTC is planning workshops on nontraditional VOC emission sources. Because these workshops are being developed now to help S/L agencies characterize and control these sources, the CTC is asking for S/L agency input on what source categories to consider in these workshops. Call Fred Dimmick at the HOTLINE, (919) 541-0800 or (FTS) 629-0800, to give your sug- gestions on workshop content. • Infectious Waste Incinerators - The CTC is very in- terested in this subject. This interest began with a large number of requests for HOTLINE assistance and grew through contacts at STAPPA/ALAPCO and State air pollution control agencies. As a begin- ning, the CTC is planning to prepare materials to help improve the operation of infectious waste incinerators. The project is a technical assistance project with the State of Maryland. Technical Guidance Available on Air Stripping Over the last year, the CTC has completed four en- gineering assistance projects. The documents describ- ing these projects have been discussed in previous Newsletters.** A discussion of the technical guidance document on air stripping of contaminated water follows. In response to a strong S/L interest in air stripping of contaminated water, the CTC collected information and data on the air emissions and controls for this source of volatile organics (VO). This information was collected through a literature search, telephone contacts and site visits. Air stripping is used to remove VO from con- taminated water. If the process is not controlled, it simply transfers VO from the water into the atmosphere. A major purpose of this effort was to investigate the air emission controls currently used for air stripping, their performance, and the capital and operating costs of these controls. The CTC published "Air Stripping of Contaminated Water Sources - Air Emissions and Controls" (EPA Publication No. 450/3-87-017) to document this project. This document lists more than 150 air strippers, their locations, and the particular chemicals of concern in some of their VO emissions. Design and operating data for several air strippers include water flow and VO con- centrations, column height and diameter, air flow, the reported removal efficiency, and other design factors. A list of air stripping facilities using air emission controls is also provided and the applicable control systems are discussed in the context of these facilities. The capital and operating costs are estimated using actual facility data and standard EPA costing procedures. As an ap- pendix to the document, a list of telephone contacts with EPA, State/local, facility, and equipment vendor person- nel is provided as well. During development of this technical guidance document, the CTC, along with S/L representatives and EPA contractors, made three site visits. The document gives general information, process descriptions, and performance data for the air stripper and the air pollu- tion control device for each site. State/local agencies can obtain the document and the other CTC engineering assistance documents at no cost by calling the CTC HOTLINE at (919) 541-0800. For further information, call Fred Dimmick at the HOTLINE at (919) 541-0800 or (FTS) 629-0800. You may send requests, information or suggestions to the CTC at: U.S. EPA, Emission Standards Division (MD-13), Control Technology Center, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711. *See related articles in January 1988 and June 1987 Newsletters "See June 1987 Newsletter 9 ------- HOUSTON REGIONAL MOf NOW INCLUDES SPECIATEI Over the past 7 years, the Houston Regional Monitoring (HRM) program has collected data to serve the information and air permitting needs of its 32-member firms located in the 900-square-mile Harris County area. Originally charged with monitoring criteria pollutants for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Texas Air Control Board (TACB) permit infor- mation needs, the HRM has recently set out to accom- plish two new goals involving volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that are of concern due to various new regulations. The first goal is to develop a baseline estimate of community exposure to a variety of VOC which characterize a large representative class of "in- dicator" compounds. The second is to provide support during accidental chemical releases through direct call- up and activation of sampling devices capable of measuring ambient impacts for up to 125 compounds. In pursuing these new goals, HRM will use a monitoring network whose design TACB has accepted as representative of air quality for PSD permitting pur- poses for all member companies. The baseline com- munity exposure measurements are being collected at 6 sites every 6 days for a minimum of 2 years. One hun- dred seventy compounds are measured as indicative of emissions (primarily fugitive) from industrial activities in the area. The volatile indicator compounds are represen- tative of the following classes of compounds: • aliphatic hydrocarbons, • aromatic hydrocarbons, • chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, • chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, • selected aldehydes and ketones, • selected alcohols and glycol ethers, • selected ethers and esters, • selected oxygenated compounds, and • selected nitrogen-containing organics. The compounds are measured on a 24-hour inte- grated basis using passivated stainless steel canisters for gas phase compounds (organics). Since the station aiTORING PROGRAM DVOCs sitings have been demonstrated to be representative of industrial air quality impacts in the Harris County area through modeling studies and 7 years of air quality data, this program begins a long-term baseline data collection effort that will help demonstrate the levels of many "in- dicator" compounds. To meet the goal of providing HRM member com- panies with additional measurement capabilities during an accidental release, each air monitoring station has been equipped with a designated sampling device for 125 potentially hazardous compounds. The device can be actuated by an HRM member company through a telephone call to the station's computer. After activation and a 3-hour sampling period, the samples are retrieved from the monitoring network and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The sampling method is based on vapor con- centration on commercially available charcoal packed in a glass cartridge system. The sampling system con- sists of duplicate sets of three cartridges to provide for primary, back-up, and field blank samples. Analysis is accomplished by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The 125 volatile organic compounds can be detected at part-per-billion levels with this approach. A total of 12 analyses are perform- ed for each event. Each set of primary samples is analyzed twice to provide accurate compound concen- tration data and information on the sampling and analysis variability. Each set of sampling back-up car- tridges is analyzed to determine if any breakthrough may have occurred during the sampling event. The field blanks and a laboratory spike sample are analyzed for quality control purposes. Costs for fielding and maintenance of this air monitoring capability are shared by HRM firms. The costs to retrieve, analyze and report the charcoal car- tridge system results are billed individually to the member company using the system. For more information on the Houston Regional Monitoring program, contact Walt Crow, Radian Cor- poration, Austin, Texas, at (512) 454-4797. AIR TOXICS WORKSHOPS F The State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA), the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO), and EPA are cosponsoring workshops this spring as a follow-up to the national air toxics workshops held in the spring of 1987. Arrangements for the workshops are in various stages of completion. The planned subjects, dates and loca- tions of the workshops are as follows: 'LANNED Control Technology/Air Toxics Permitting: April 12-14 San Francisco, California Hospital Waste Incinerators (HWI) and Hospital Sterilizers: May 10-12 San Francisco, California Week of May 23 Baltimore, Maryland 10 ------- Air Toxics Modeling: April 11-14 June Waltham, Massachusetts Midwest site to be determined The Control Technology/Air Toxics Permitting workshop was developed through the support of the Control Technology Center. One session of this workshop was held in March. The workshops, similar to specialty conferences, should be attended by personnel with a working knowledge in the subject areas. The workshops are open only to State or local agency (S/L) or EPA personnel ex- cept for the first 2 days of the Control Technology/ Permitting Workshop, which are also open to industry. The California Air Pollution Control Officials Association is cosponsoring the HWI workshop in San Francisco and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management is cosponsoring the HWI workshop in Baltimore and the modeling workshops. Control Technology/Air Ibxlcs Permitting to Examine Case Studies One of the prime objectives of this workshop is to promote better understanding between industry and regulatory agencies on what air toxics control is appro- priate within the S/L permitting process. During the first 2 days, several industry and EPA presenters will use case examples to relay field experiences related to each of several commonly used options to control air toxics (e.g., combustion-related controls, process modification, adsorption and absorption). A panel largely consisting of S/L representatives will then respond to each presen- tation on a particular control technology by discussing its real world limitations and applicability. Day 3 will be open only to S/L and EPA participants in order to allow regulatory officials to focus on specific needs and issues associated with air toxics permitting and to learn what technical support is available to them from EPA (e.g., Control Technology Center assistance). For more specific information on this workshop, please contact Kirt Cox, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5399 or (FTS) 629-5399. Hospital Waste incineration and Hospital Sterilizers Will Include Field TVIp This specialty workshop will address S/L problems associated with HWI and hospital sterilizers. The first 2 days of the workshop will be dedicated to defining the nature of the HWI concerns (e.g., source characteriza- tion, health effects) and S/L regulatory experiences in addressing them. A morning session on Day 3 will focus on the air toxics problems associated with the permit- ting of hospital sterilizers. Other discussions are planned to allow more specific concerns to be raised to a panel of experts. A field trip to the Stanford Hospital Incinerator (a state-of-the-art facility) will be held on the final day of the west coast session. Additional information on this workshop may be obtained from David Painter, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5355 or (FTS) 629-5355. Air Toxics Modeling to Give Flrst-Hand Experience This 4 1/2-day workshop focuses on the modeling of routine air toxics emissions. Attendees should have some dispersion modeling experience. In particular, the workshop will review and apply existing methods for predicting ambient concentrations of toxic air con- taminants by the application of appropriate models. Limited time will be spent on the modeling of spills and accidental releases. Workshop attendance will be restricted by available computer space. Jim Dicke, U.S. EPA, OAQPS, (919) 541-5682 or (FTS) 629-5682, may be contacted for more detailed information on this workshop. A fee of up to $50.00 may be charged for conference registration at some of the workshops. If you have ques- tions regarding attendance or other questions concern- ing the workshops, please call your EPA Regional Office air toxics contact. Specific agenda-related in- quiries should be addressed to Jim Dicke. OAQPS PUBLISHES TOXIC AIR EMISSION REPORT FOR BENZENE EPA's OAQPS has published a report entitled "Locating and Estimating Air Emissions from Sources of Benzene." This emission document is a part of the report series of "Locating and Estimating Air Emissions from Sources of (Substance)."* The purpose of the benzene report is to assist air pollution control agencies and others who are interested in locating potential air emitters of benzene and making preliminary estimates of their emissions. The report number is EPA-450/4-84-007q. Single copies of this report are available by writing the EPA library at Mail Drop 35, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, or by calling (919) 541-2777 or (FTS) 629-2777. The process to make the report available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) for a fee has been initiated. For further informa- tion, contact Bill Kuykendal at (919) 541-5372 or (FTS) 629-5372. *For complete listing of all reports in this series, see the November 1987 Newsletter, pages 8-9. 11 ------- CORRECTION FOR HOSPITAL WASTE COMBUSTION STUDY The November 1987 Newsletter announced the availability of a draft report entitled "Hospital Waste Combustion Study - Data Gathering Phase." During review of this report, it was noted that two tables had been incorrectly titled. For Table 3-7 entitled "Data/ Factors for Chlorinated Dibenzofuran Emissions for Hospital Waste Incinerators" and Table 3-8 entitled "Data/Factors for Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxin Emis- sions," the titles should be reversed. Table 3-7 provides emissions data for dioxins and Table 3-8 provides emis- sions data for furans. For further information on this report, contact Rayburn Morrison, U.S. EPA, at (919) 541-5330 or (FTS) 629-5330. COMING IN NEXT ISSUE: AIR/SUPERFUIMD COORDINATION - AN IMPORTANT MULTIMEDIA EFFORT The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter is published by the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse to assist State and local air agencies making decisions on noncriteria pollutant emissions. The Clearinghouse is being implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Strategies and Air Standards Division, Pollutant Assessment Branch as part of a joint effort with the State and Local Air Pollu- tion Control Officials (ALAPCO). The National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter is prepared by Radian Corporation under EPA Contract Number 68-02-4330, Work Assignment 34. The EPA Project Officer is Beth Hassett, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, Telephone: (919)541-0850. The Radian Project Director is Alice Pelland, P.O. Box 13000, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, (919)541-9100. The Newsletter is prepared primarily for State and local air pollution control agencies and is distributed free of charge. Those wishing to report address changes may do so by contacting Nancy Riley, EPA OAQPS (919)541-0850. Please contact either the Project Officer with any comments you might have pertaining to this newsletter or with suggestions for future newsletters. Articles in the newsletter are written by Radian Corporation or EPA staff unless otherwise indicated. The views expressed in the National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse Newsletter so not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute any endorsement or recommenda- tion for use by EPA. Beth Hassett Pollutant Assessment Branch U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MD-13 Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. Postage Paid E.P.A. Permit No. G-35 Library EPA, Region II Woodbridge Avenue Edison, NJ 08837 ------- |