Measurements and estimations of local impacts from fugitive emissions

Abstract

A laboratory and field sampling program was conducted to study the ground‐level concentrations of benzene due to fugitive emissions. The three‐day field sampling study addressed benzene sampling in the downwind plume line at ground level within the first 500 meters of a maleic anhydride plant. The laboratory evaluation of the benzene measurement technique used, along with the results of the ground‐level sampling are presented.

Statistical analyses of the measurement data indicated the best fit formula to the actual data was the y = Kin x. From a statistically determined source strength factor, the point source and finite line source models were plotted and compared to the actual data. It was found that within 200 meters, ground‐level concentrations of benzene could be attributed to fugitive emissions while at a distance both the fugitive and the stack emissions contributed to the measured concentrations.

Key words:

• Fugitive emissions
• benzene emissions
• pollutant dispersion
• and source‐receptor models