air quality impacts of recreational beach fires: preliminary assessment

7/30/2019 Air Quality Impacts of Recreational Beach Fires: Preliminary Assessment

1/18

5/15/201

Posted at www.aqmd.gov

May 15, 2013

Outline Health Effects of Wood Smoke

Preliminary Monitoring Data

Gradient Surveys

Fixed-site Monitoring

Other Results


2/18

5/15/201

Wood Smoke Source of fine particulate (PM2.5)

Source of carcinogenic toxic pollutants

Benzene, Formaldehyde, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAH)

Contains respiratory irritants

Acrolein, NOx

Wood burning can affect indoor and outdoor air quality

Multiple studies showing health effects:

In communities with high levels of wood combustion

During large wildfire events

Studies in Communities with

Significant Biomass Burning

Daily particulate matter levels associated with:

Respiratory symptoms in children with asthma

Visits to emergency rooms for asthma episodesHospital admissions related to respiratory symptoms

Naeher, L. et al. Woodsmoke Health Effects: A Review. Inhalation Toxicology, 19(1): 67 106, 2007


3/18

5/15/201

Studies During Southern

California Wildfires - 2003 Increased symptoms in children exposed to smoke

Eye, nose and throat irritation

Cough, wheezing, asthma attacks

Medication use and physician visits

Increased respiratory-related hospital admissions

Strongest associations noted among those over 65 and

those 1-4 years of age

Kunzli, N. et al. Health Effects of the 2003 Southern California Wildfires on Children.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 174: 12211228, 2006;

Delfino, R. et al. The relationship of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions to

the southern California wildfires of 2003. Occup. Environ. Med. 66:189-197, 2009

Agency Position on Wood Smoke

California Air Resources Board

Wood smoke a serious threat to public health

Aggravates lung and heart disease

Can cause 10% increase in children's hospital admissionsfor respiratory symptoms

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Wood smoke can affect everyone

Children, persons with existing health conditions most vulnerable

Health risks can be reduced by switching to gaseousfuels


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5/15/201

PM Health Guidance

National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5: Annual Average: 12 mg/m3

24 Hour Average: 35 mg/m3

Guidance for Public Health Officials for Wildfire Smoke

Recommended protective measures based upon shorter termPM exposure

Includes Time frames as short as 1 to 3 hours

for both PM2.5 and PM10: 89 - 138 mg/m3 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)

139 - 351 mg/m3

- Unhealthyconsider canceling public events,based on public health and travel considerations

352 - 526 mg/m3 - Very UnhealthyLipsett, Michael and Barbara Materna, Wildfire Smoke A Guide for Public Health Officials , 2008.

Revising the Air Quality Index and Setting a Significant Harm Level for PM2.5 , OAQPS Issue Paperfor Discussion at National Air Quality Conference, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,OAQPS, 2007.

Beach Fire Pit Emissions

Assessed the emissions of a single fire ring forone evening

One fire event assumed to burn 2 bundles ofwood (approx. 32 lbs total)

Assumed CARB fireplace emission factor

Compared emissions to that of an average on-road 2013 Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicle (HDDV)

One fire pit in one evening estimated toemit as much PM2.5 as one Heavy-DutyDiesel Truck driving 564 miles


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SCAQMD Monitoring Studies

Purpose

Assess potential for human exposure to wood smokefrom beach fires

Approach

Deploy a combination of monitoring technologies andsampling strategies

Other Considerations

Shifting meteorology, variable activity levels, technologylimitations


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5/15/201

Gradient SurveysObjective:

Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at multiple

locations downwind over the course of an evening

Methods:

TSI Inc. DustTrak DRX Measures PM1, PM2.5, PM10

on a second-by-second basis

Advantages: small, portable, high time

resolution, good survey tool for relative

measurements

Limitations: not certified to federal reference

method criteria. A drying inlet implemented to

remove humidity effects

Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/19/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background Levels

Fire pits

WindDirection

1.2

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.21.7

1.61.5

2.4 2.3 1.8

1.9

1.5

1.3

1.7

2.1 2.0

1.0

1.1


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5/15/201


10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background Levels

Fire pits

StationaryMonitor

1.2

1.4

1.4

1.5

3.2

1.2

1.2

1.4 2.7

1.5

1.6

2.8

1.0

1.6

1.8

1.2 1.2

2.8


10 Minute Average PM10 Relative to Background Levels

Ratios to Lowest Observe Measurement

Fire pits

StationaryMonitor

1.41.4

1.2

1.1

2.5

2.72.2

2.7

1.5

1.1

1.7

1.1

1.0

1.7

1.2

2.0 2.5

4.9


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4.9

3.7

15 Fire pits

16 Fire pits

1

2.3

Night

Wind

1.1

1.5 1.3

1.3

1.4

1.4

Mobile Measurements: 10minute averages

Measurements:7pm to 10pm average

Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13

10 Minute Average PM10 Relative to Background

12.8

8.2

Measurements:7pm to 10pm average

Night

Wind

2.2

1.0

1.8

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.52.1

Lowest

Mobile Measurements:Relative Ratio to lowestobserved measurement

15 Fire pits

16 Fire pits

1.2


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Preliminary Results: Dockweiler State Beach 4/20/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

Fire pits

1.5

2.0

1.0

1.5

3.5

5.0

1.0

2.01.5

1.0 1.01.0

1.0

3.5 1.5

16

Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: 4/06/13

10 Min Average PM2.5 Ratio to Background

1.3

2.2 1.0

1.5

3.110.5

6.7

2.32.0

1.9 0.9

1.0 Background


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1

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/13/13

10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

5.68.0

1.4

3.610.8

0.6

2.4

2.4

1.6

1.8

1.8

1.8 1.8 1.2 1.6

1.2

1.0Background

9.8

2.0

3.2

3.01.8

2.8 1.4

4.8

4.6

1.3

1.4


Gradient 1

Gradient 2

Gradient 3


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Preliminary Results:

Huntington Beach 4/27/13

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

EstimatedPM2.5

RelativetoBackgroundLevel

Distance from Beach (m)

Gradient 1 Gradient 2 Gradient 3


10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

5.1

1.3

1.3

0.9

3.2

1.1

2

3.6

0.9

1.2

3.1

3.3

2.4

3.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

4.5

1.11.1

1.2

1.2

1.5

1.2

1.3

1.0

0.9

1.0

1.3


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1

Fixed-Site MonitoringObjective:

Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at a fixed

locations, continuously over time

Methods:

E-BAM Measures PM2.5 on an hourly basis

Advantages: portable, low power, same

measurement principle as a Federal Equivalent

Method

Limitations: less accurate at low levels

Aethalometer

Measures Black Carbon, anindicator of combustion, on a continuous basis

Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) - Measures

Ultrafine particles, indicative of nearby sources of

combustion

Fixed Site Monitoring: Corona Del Mar

EBAM

Aethalometer

CPC

PM2.5 FilterSampling

Fire pits

StationarySite


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1

Fixed Site Monitoring: Balboa Beach

EBAM

StationarySite

Fire pits

Fire pits

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

3/29/13

12:00

3/30/13

12:00

3/31/13

12:00

4/1/13

12:00

4/2/13

12:00

4/3/13

12:00

4/4/13

12:00

4/5/13

12:00

4/6/13

12:00

4/7/13

12:00

4/8/13

12:00

4/9/13

12:00

4/10/13

12:00

4/11/13

12:00

4/12/13

12:00

4/13/1312:00

4/14/13

12:00

4/15/13

12:00

4/16/13

12:00

4/17/13

12:00

4/18/13

12:00

4/19/13

12:00

4/20/13

12:00

4/21/13

12:00

4/22/13

12:00

4/23/13

12:00

4/24/13

12:00

4/25/13

12:00

4/26/13

12:00

4/27/13

12:00

4/28/13

12:00

4/29/13

12:00

4/30/13

12:00

5/1/13

12:00

5/2/13

12:00

5/3/13

12:00

5/4/13

12:00

5/5/13

12:00

5/6/13

12:00

5/7/13

12:00

PM2.5Estim

atedConcentrationug/m3)

Date and TimeCorona Del Mar PM2.5 (ug/m3) Balboa Beach PM2.5 (ug/m3)Corona Del Mar PM2.5 B (ug/m3) USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar and Balboa Beach

PM2.5 Time Series

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyconsider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations


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5/15/201

1

Fixed Site Monitoring: Huntington Beach

EBAM

Aethalometer

CPC

PM2.5 FilterSampling Stationary

Site

Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: 4/13 to 5/1

PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

0

2040

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

4/12/13

0:00

4/12/13

12:00

4/13/13

0:00

4/13/13

12:00

4/14/13

0:00

4/14/13

12:00

4/15/13

0:00

4/15/13

12:00

4/16/13

0:00

4/16/13

12:00

4/17/13

0:00

4/17/13

12:00

4/18/13

0:00

4/18/13

12:00

4/19/13

0:00

4/19/13

12:00

4/20/13

0:00

4/20/13

12:00

4/21/13

0:00

4/21/13

12:00

4/22/13

0:00

4/22/13

12:00

4/23/13

0:00

4/23/13

12:00

4/24/13

0:00

4/24/13

12:00

4/25/13

0:00

4/25/13

12:00

4/26/13

0:00

4/26/13

12:00

4/27/13

0:00

4/27/13

12:00

4/28/13

0:00

4/28/13

12:00

4/29/13

0:00

4/29/13

12:00

4/30/13

0:00

4/30/13

12:00

5/1/130:00

5/1/131

2:00

5/2/130:00

HourlyAveragePM2.5

ug/m3

Date/Time

EBAM 1 E-BAM 5 USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)



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5/15/201

1

Preliminary Data: Huntington Beach 4/27 to 5/1

PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

4/27/201

3

0:00

4/27/201

3

3:00

4/27/201

3

6:00

4/27/201

3

9:00

4/27/2013

12:00

4/27/2013

15:00

4/27/2013

18:00

4/27/2013

21:00

4/28/201

3

0:00

4/28/201

3

3:00

4/28/201

3

6:00

4/28/201

3

9:00

4/28/2013

12:00

4/28/2013

15:00

4/28/2013

18:00

4/28/2013

21:00

4/29/201

3

0:00

4/29/201

3

3:00

4/29/201

3

6:00

4/29/201

3

9:00

4/29/2013

12:00

4/29/2013

15:00

4/29/2013

18:00

4/29/2013

21:00

4/30/201

3

0:00

4/30/201

3

3:00

4/30/201

3

6:00

4/30/201

3

9:00

4/30/2013

12:00

4/30/2013

15:00

4/30/2013

18:00

4/30/2013

21:00

5/1/201

3

0:00

HourlyAveragePM2.5

ug/m3

Date/Time

EBAM 1 E-BAM 5 USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)EveningHours

Sat Sun Mon Tues

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Preliminary Results: Maximum Hourly PM2.5

Concentration Comparison

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Station Fire(2009)

July 4th, 2012 South CoastBasin (2012)

HuntingtonBeach

Corona delMar

BalboaBeach

Maximum

Hou

rlyPM2.5Concentration

(ug/m3)



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5/15/201

1


Black Carbon and Ultrafine Particle ( 1 minute average)

0

5

10

15

20

25

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

13:00

13:17

13:34

13:51

14:08

14:25

14:42

14:59

15:16

15:33

15:50

16:07

16:24

16:41

16:58

17:15

17:32

17:49

18:06

18:23

18:40

18:57

19:14

19:31

19:48

20:05

20:22

20:39

20:56

21:13

21:30

BC(ug/m3)

CPCCount

Count MATES IV Count Max BC MATES IV BC Max

Filter analysis

Corona del Mar (3/30 to 4/19), Huntington Beach (4/24 to

current)- PM2.5 Mass (24 hour average) Daily Samples

All below 12.5 ug/m3, under the 24 hour NAAQS level (35 ug/m3)

One day nearly 40 ug/m3, day had very high gusty winds

- PM10 mass (4 hour sample, 4/6) - One Sample Only

Sample collected from 5 to 9pm with burning activity shown to

have PM10 mass concentration of 95 ug/m3.

30% higher concentration than sample collected from 1 to 5pm

Elevated levels of Potassium, an indicator for wood smoke


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5/15/201

1

Other analysisSix Ash samples:

- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Very low levels

- Elemental Analysis: Compared to wood ash, samples had high

presence of silicon and aluminum, indicative of sand content; most

other elements consistent with wood ash concentrations.

- One sample had an elevated level of total Chromium compared to

wood ash.

Five Sand samples:- PAH: Below analytical detection

Preliminary Conclusions

Beach fire activity is impacting PM2.5 levels at the

beach and extending into neighboring communities

Concentrations can be up to 10 times background levels

for short periods of time in beach parking areas, up to 3

times background at residential locations

1-hour average PM concentrations can exceed public

health guidance levels

Some measurements are higher than observed across

the Basin over a whole year


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5/15/201

Next steps Continue field sampling

Consider deployment of federal equivalent

methods

Continue to report findings to public as they

become available

Continue to work with potentially impacted citiesand state parks

Evaluate propane and natural gas options

air quality impacts of recreational beach fires: preliminary assessment

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