Associations among particulate matter, hazardous air pollutants and methane emissions from the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility during the 2015 blowout. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Garcia-Gonzales, Diane A.; Popoola, Olalekan; Bright, Vivien B.; Paulson, Suzanne E.; Wang, Yanwen; Jones, Roderic L.; Jerrett, Michael
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 132(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: AQMIS2 Air Quality and Meteorological Information -- Bcf billion cubic feet -- CASPER Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response -- CCA Canonical Correlation Analysis -- CH4 methane -- CO carbon monoxide -- CO2 carbon dioxide -- EPA Environmental Protection Agency -- FID Flame Ionization Detection -- GC Gas Chromatography -- H2S hydrogen sulfide -- HAPs hazardous air pollutants -- LADPH Los Angeles Department of Public Health -- NERC Natural Environment Research Council -- NO2 nitrogen dioxide -- NO nitrogen oxide -- O3 ozone -- OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment -- PM particulate matter -- REL Reference Exposure Levels -- SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District -- SNAQ Sensor Networks for Air Quality -- SO2 sulfur dioxide -- SoCal Gas Southern California Gas -- tVOC total volatile organic compounds; Natural gas storage -- Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) -- Particulate matter (PM) -- Methane -- Air quality -- Aliso Canyon; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: In October of 2015, a large underground storage well at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility experienced a massive methane leak (also referred to as "natural gas blowout"), which resulted in the largest ever anthropogenic release of methane from a single point source in the United States. Additional sampling conducted during the event revealed unique gas and particle concentrations in ambient air and a characteristic "fingerprint" of metals in the indoor dust samples similar to samples taken at the blowout site. We further investigated the association between the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage site and several measured air pollutants by: (a) conducting additional emission source studies using meteorological data and correlations between particulate matter, methane, and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) collected during the natural gas blowout at distances ranging from 1.2 to 7.3 km due south of well SS25, (b) identifying the unique i / n -pentane ratio signature associated with emissions from the blowout event, and (c) identifying characteristics unique to the homes that tested positive for air pollutants using data collected from extensive indoor environmental assessment surveys. Results of air quality samples collected near Aliso Canyon during the final weeks of the event revealed that elevated levels of several HAP compounds were likely influenced by the active natural gas blowout. Furthermore, the final attempts to plug the well during the days preceding the well kill were associated with particle emissions likely from the well site. Together, this investigation suggests uncontrolled leaks or blowout events at natural gas storage facilities have the potential to release harmful pollutants with adverse health and environmental consequences into proximate communities. With this evidence, our recommendations include facility-specific meteorological and air quality data-collection equipment installed at natural gas storage facilities and support of environmental surveillance after severe off-normal operation events. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Evidence suggests that a broad range of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) were co-emitted during elevated methane emissions. We found evidence that the final well kill attempts were associated with particle emissions likely from the SS25 well site. Accidents at natural gas storage facilities have the potential to release harmful pollutants into proximate communities.