CPANA is releasing the March air monitoring results. The tests attached are for volatile organic compounds.
Nothing in the results appeared to exceed any air monitoring comparison values. More commentary will be provided at the end of the study, or if something comes up abnormal.
Beginning March 5, 2011, CPANA monitored two locations:
March 5 - April 7 - Box 210 (Near future Ingram well site)
March 5 - April 7 - Box 99 (Near future B&H well site)
Benzene levels for both boxes came in well below TCEQ long-term effects screening levels (ESLs).
Total levels of VOCs showed to be about twice as high at the B&H site (Box 99 - 1.81 ppb) than the Ingram site (Box 210 - .93 ppb), which is expected since the B&H site is closer to a fuel station, and busy S.H. 121 Business. This variance in background levels is part of the reason CPANA is conducting baseline air monitoring.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
CPANA Releases More Air Monitoring Results
As we've written previously, the Central Park Area Neighbors Association is undergoing a year-long study of air quality in Southern Lewisville in anticipation of natural gas well development in the area. The group hopes to get a good benchmark of where the air quality is before drilling, so that any changes after drilling can be noted. The tests attached are for volatile organic compounds.
Nothing in the results appeared to exceed any air monitoring comparison values. More commentary will be provided at the end of the study, or if something comes up abnormal.
January 3 - February 5, 2011
February 5 - March 5, 2011
CPANA has increased the testing to encompass more testing locations, and will soon begin testing for reduced sulfur compounds in the air.
Nothing in the results appeared to exceed any air monitoring comparison values. More commentary will be provided at the end of the study, or if something comes up abnormal.
January 3 - February 5, 2011
February 5 - March 5, 2011
CPANA has increased the testing to encompass more testing locations, and will soon begin testing for reduced sulfur compounds in the air.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
CPANA Board to Increase Air Quality Efforts in Lewisville
As you know, for the past 6 months, CPANA has been doing some baseline air quality testing in one of our neighborhoods in Lewisville near what will be the Ingram drill site. The purpose of testing before the drilling begins is so that we can gain an understanding of what our air quality is currently like, so that we can tell whether gas drilling affects it later. It's our goal to provide the neighborhoods with some reassurance that the air quality is not going to go bad without us finding out very quickly and taking action. The drillers know we're doing this, and we hope that gives them incentive to do things in the cleanest, safest manner possible. (We post the results on CPANA.org, and a fresh set will be there shortly)
We've recently had two developments that affect our CPANA neighborhoods: Titan has filed for a permit for the B&H well site, which is near S.H. 121 and Southwest Parkway. Williams has been approved for 16 wells and a wastewater collection facility South of F.M. 3040. Predominant wind patterns here are from the South, so if there is any pollution from those wells, we would want to be able to detect it, and be able to distinguish it from any that would come from the Titan wells in our neighborhoods.
So, tonight, our CPANA board unanimously approved extending our testing in order to cover these areas. If you own property that abuts F.M. 3040 or near the B&H site on Southwest Parkway, we'd like to hear from you if you would allow us to put a testing box on your property.
Further, following the lead of neighboring Flower Mound, which is dealing with some air quality issues in some neighborhoods, we are going to begin doing some testing for sulfur compounds just to be on the safe side.
In all of this, we're trying to use the most cost-effective methods of testing that would reasonably give us useful data. So far we have only spent about $500 for testing out of $1,000 authorized this summer, and we have authorized about $2,000 more, which we hope to be able to pay for with interest earnings from the community fund.
Lastly, we are considering adding new board members to CPANA to bring our number back up, since we currently only have 6. If any of our members are interested in joining the CPANA board, let us hear from you. In fact, we want to hear from you about whatever concerns you may have over the gas drilling, one way or the other.
On behalf of the CPANA board,
CPANA Releases Air Monitoring Data
CPANA continues its year-long study of air quality in a Lewisville neighborhood prior to the entrance of natural gas drilling.
Although CPANA has not released any narrative yet for months 4 - 6, it is releasing the data now in the interest of maintaining openness, and will follow up with some explanation at a later time. Benzene, toluene, and xylene have all been found in quantities well below long-term effects screening levels. Samples are taken using passive diffusion tubes which soak up a sample of air over the course of a month, and when analyzed give a rough average of contamination levels. CPANA looks for benzene levels and the top nine other VOCs found in the sample tube.
Month 4: 9/19/2010 - 10/18/2010
Month 5: 10/18/2010 - 11/16/2010
Month 6: 11/16/2010 - 12/18/2010
CPANA Board members will meet tonight to discuss possible expansion of its monitoring program to include additional locations and analytes.
Although CPANA has not released any narrative yet for months 4 - 6, it is releasing the data now in the interest of maintaining openness, and will follow up with some explanation at a later time. Benzene, toluene, and xylene have all been found in quantities well below long-term effects screening levels. Samples are taken using passive diffusion tubes which soak up a sample of air over the course of a month, and when analyzed give a rough average of contamination levels. CPANA looks for benzene levels and the top nine other VOCs found in the sample tube.
Month 4: 9/19/2010 - 10/18/2010
Month 5: 10/18/2010 - 11/16/2010
Month 6: 11/16/2010 - 12/18/2010
CPANA Board members will meet tonight to discuss possible expansion of its monitoring program to include additional locations and analytes.
Friday, October 29, 2010
CPANA Gets Third Air Quality Benchmark Results
As we've reported before, CPANA is in the process of conducting a year-long pre-drilling air quality benchmark study. We recently received results from the third month of monitoring.
CPANA uses a stainless steel sorbent tube placed in a secured location outdoors in Southern Lewisville, just down-wind from a future drill site. The tube passively soaks up contaminants from the air and is exposed for about a month. After exposure, the tube is sealed up and shipped to a laboratory where it is analyzed by thermal desorption - gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. The group is looking for the concentration of Benzene, and the top 9 other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The following compounds and concentrations were found for the sampling period of 9/19/2010 - 10/18/2010:
- Benzene was not detected. The limits of detection for this sample puts benzene below 0.05 ppb.
- Isopropyl Alcohol was detected at 0.23 ppb. This is standard rubbing alcohol used for medical procedures and as a household solvent or astringent. It can also be used as a fuel additive.
- Acetic Acid was found at 0.15 ppb. Commonly known as vinegar, but also used in industry as a feedstock. It can be found in nature as a fermentation byproduct of fruit spoilage. It may be used as a household cleaner or used in food preparation.
- Cyclohexanone was found at 0.13 ppb. A chemical precursor to the manufacture of nylon, this compound is a product of the oxidation of cyclohexane. LTESL (health) = 20ppb, under review.
- p-Xylene was found at 0.10 ppb. This solvent is similar to Benzene, but with two additional methyl groups added. The ortho, meta, and para isomers (the o, m, or p prefix) indicate where on the molecule the methyl groups are added. According to CDC, xylene is also found in automobile exhaust, and comes from industrial sources. LTESL (health) = 42 ppb for all 3 isomers.
- Pinene was found at .07 ppb. (This is a natural compound from pine trees, which are located near our sample box)
- Dodecane was found at 0.03 ppb. This is a 12 carbon alkane hydrocarbon that is a component of diesel and aviation fuel. LTESL is 350 µg/m3
- Isocyanato Cyclohexane was found at 0.03 ppb. A yellowish liquid with an irritating odor. Insoluble in water. Flash point 127°F. Very toxic by inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion. Used to make pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. LTESL (health) is 0.4 ppb.
- Tridecane was found at 0.03 ppb. This is a 13 carbon alkane hydrocarbon that is a component of diesel and aviation fuel. It is also naturally produced by some stinkbugs as a defense. (Note that our sample box has screen to keep insects out, and we check for insects when we change tubes). LTESL is 350 µg/m3
No other compounds were detected in this sample. Concentrations are given in parts per billion (ppb). Overall MOU (margin of uncertainty) is +/- 16.8%. Laboratory results are attached.
CPANA uses a stainless steel sorbent tube placed in a secured location outdoors in Southern Lewisville, just down-wind from a future drill site. The tube passively soaks up contaminants from the air and is exposed for about a month. After exposure, the tube is sealed up and shipped to a laboratory where it is analyzed by thermal desorption - gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. The group is looking for the concentration of Benzene, and the top 9 other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The following compounds and concentrations were found for the sampling period of 9/19/2010 - 10/18/2010:
- Benzene was not detected. The limits of detection for this sample puts benzene below 0.05 ppb.
- Isopropyl Alcohol was detected at 0.23 ppb. This is standard rubbing alcohol used for medical procedures and as a household solvent or astringent. It can also be used as a fuel additive.
- Acetic Acid was found at 0.15 ppb. Commonly known as vinegar, but also used in industry as a feedstock. It can be found in nature as a fermentation byproduct of fruit spoilage. It may be used as a household cleaner or used in food preparation.
- Cyclohexanone was found at 0.13 ppb. A chemical precursor to the manufacture of nylon, this compound is a product of the oxidation of cyclohexane. LTESL (health) = 20ppb, under review.
- p-Xylene was found at 0.10 ppb. This solvent is similar to Benzene, but with two additional methyl groups added. The ortho, meta, and para isomers (the o, m, or p prefix) indicate where on the molecule the methyl groups are added. According to CDC, xylene is also found in automobile exhaust, and comes from industrial sources. LTESL (health) = 42 ppb for all 3 isomers.
- Pinene was found at .07 ppb. (This is a natural compound from pine trees, which are located near our sample box)
- Dodecane was found at 0.03 ppb. This is a 12 carbon alkane hydrocarbon that is a component of diesel and aviation fuel. LTESL is 350 µg/m3
- Isocyanato Cyclohexane was found at 0.03 ppb. A yellowish liquid with an irritating odor. Insoluble in water. Flash point 127°F. Very toxic by inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion. Used to make pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. LTESL (health) is 0.4 ppb.
- Tridecane was found at 0.03 ppb. This is a 13 carbon alkane hydrocarbon that is a component of diesel and aviation fuel. It is also naturally produced by some stinkbugs as a defense. (Note that our sample box has screen to keep insects out, and we check for insects when we change tubes). LTESL is 350 µg/m3
No other compounds were detected in this sample. Concentrations are given in parts per billion (ppb). Overall MOU (margin of uncertainty) is +/- 16.8%. Laboratory results are attached.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
CPANA Gets Second Lewisville Air Quality Screening Results
Central Park Area Neighbors Association (CPANA) this week received the second set of air quality screening results in its planned year-long benchmarking of Lewisville ambient air prior to the beginning of gas drilling activities in Southern Lewisville.You can read more about the sampling and testing methodology in CPANA's post on the first sample.
No concentrations were found to exceed any health-based comparison values. For conservative comparison, we used TCEQ's Long Term ESLs (LTESL)
- Benzene was detected at .08 ppb. LTESL is 1.4 ppb
- Pinene was the most abundent VOC detected, at .14 ppb. (This is a natural compound from pine trees, which are located near our sample box)
- Hexadecane was found at .10 ppb. This compound is a 16-carbon alkane also known as cetane. Hexadecane is a diesel component or additive. (LTESL 350 ug/m3 - no ppb value available)
- Dichlorodifluoromethane was found at .09 ppb, though our laboratory is not accredited on that compound. This CFC is otherwise known as Freon 12 or R-12. It was used in vehicle air conditioners made before 1994, and its manufacture has been banned. LTESL is 1000 ppb.
- Toluene was found at 0.06 ppb. Toluene is a solvent, but EPA says the principal source of toluene in ambient air is automotive emissions. LTESL is 330 ppb.
- Heptadecane was found at 0.06 ppb. TCEQ doesn't list a ppb LTESL for heptadecane, but the long-term ESL is listed as 10 ug/m3. We calculate our sample was about 0.56 ug/m3.
- p-Xylene was found at 0.06 ppb. LTESL based on odor is 42 ppb. STESL (health) is 58 ppb.
- Octadecane was found at 0.05 ppb. LTESL is 10 ug/m3
- o-Xylene was found at 0.05 ppb. LTESL based on odor is 42 ppb. STESL (health) is 380 ppb.
- Pentadecane was found at 0.04 ppb. No LTESL is found at this point, but we'll research this further. Pentadecane is a component of diesel fuel, and a fragrance agent.
Note that other compounds likely were present, but only the top 10 found are being quantified in our screening, and the laboratory has limits of detection. So any other compounds would have been at concentrations lower than the 0.04 ppb of Pentadecane.
Monday, August 16, 2010
CPANA Gets First Lewisville Air Quality Screening Results
CPANA today received the first set of results from a planned year-long screening of air quality before natural gas drilling takes place.
We are using an independent laboratory to analyze diffusion tubes which are exposed to the air near one of the proposed future drill sites. By getting a good benchmark of current air quality, we hope to be able to detect any changes in quality after drilling and gas production begins.
Initial Results:
The tube was analyzed for Benzene, and the top nine other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found.
Benzene was below the limits of detection, which is 3.9 ng for the tube. According to the lab, this limit would be equivalent to about 0.076 parts per billion (ppb), which is well below the 1.4 ppb long-term effects screening level, and the short-term 54 ppb ESL. Because benzene was not detected, we know that our levels are below 0.076 ppb.
Only three other compounds were detected, and none exceeded long term or short term effects screening levels (ESLs):
- 1R-.alpha.-Pinene at 0.15 ppb (Long term ESL is 1.0 ppb)
- Toluene at 0.03 ppb (Long term ESL is 330 ppb)
- m/p- Xylene at 0.02 ppb (Long term ESL is 42 ppb)
Toluene and Xylene are both solvents used in a variety of products, and part of the BTEX (Benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene,xylene) quartet of hazardous chemicals that are sometimes emitted from natural gas operations.
According to an EPA fact sheet on Toluene, automobile emissions are the principal source of toluene emissions in ambient air. According to CDC, xylene is also found in automobile exhaust, and comes from industrial sources. The CPANA air sampling station for this test is located away from idling automobiles and well setback from nearby streets.
Pinene is a natural compound produced by pine trees, some of which surround the testing site.
Sampling Method
Samples are taken by using a diffusion tube exposed to the ambient air in a locked, ventilated box near the proposed drill site. Diffusion tubes are stainless steel tubes containing a sorbent material that passively soaks up air contaminants over a specified time period. The tubes are maintained with a strict chain of custody, installed under seal and witnessed by at least two CPANA board members. The completed sample is mailed to an analytical laboratory with no ties to any of the local natural gas operators.
The initial sample was taken from 6/23/2010 - 7/24/2010. Overall MOU (margin of uncertainty) is +/- 16.8%. The laboratory is certified for the analytical work, but ppb numbers take into account exposure times provided by CPANA, and for which they have no control.
Laboratory results are attached.
We are using an independent laboratory to analyze diffusion tubes which are exposed to the air near one of the proposed future drill sites. By getting a good benchmark of current air quality, we hope to be able to detect any changes in quality after drilling and gas production begins.
Initial Results:
The tube was analyzed for Benzene, and the top nine other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found.
Benzene was below the limits of detection, which is 3.9 ng for the tube. According to the lab, this limit would be equivalent to about 0.076 parts per billion (ppb), which is well below the 1.4 ppb long-term effects screening level, and the short-term 54 ppb ESL. Because benzene was not detected, we know that our levels are below 0.076 ppb.
Only three other compounds were detected, and none exceeded long term or short term effects screening levels (ESLs):
- 1R-.alpha.-Pinene at 0.15 ppb (Long term ESL is 1.0 ppb)
- Toluene at 0.03 ppb (Long term ESL is 330 ppb)
- m/p- Xylene at 0.02 ppb (Long term ESL is 42 ppb)
Toluene and Xylene are both solvents used in a variety of products, and part of the BTEX (Benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene,xylene) quartet of hazardous chemicals that are sometimes emitted from natural gas operations.
According to an EPA fact sheet on Toluene, automobile emissions are the principal source of toluene emissions in ambient air. According to CDC, xylene is also found in automobile exhaust, and comes from industrial sources. The CPANA air sampling station for this test is located away from idling automobiles and well setback from nearby streets.
Pinene is a natural compound produced by pine trees, some of which surround the testing site.
Sampling Method
Samples are taken by using a diffusion tube exposed to the ambient air in a locked, ventilated box near the proposed drill site. Diffusion tubes are stainless steel tubes containing a sorbent material that passively soaks up air contaminants over a specified time period. The tubes are maintained with a strict chain of custody, installed under seal and witnessed by at least two CPANA board members. The completed sample is mailed to an analytical laboratory with no ties to any of the local natural gas operators.
The initial sample was taken from 6/23/2010 - 7/24/2010. Overall MOU (margin of uncertainty) is +/- 16.8%. The laboratory is certified for the analytical work, but ppb numbers take into account exposure times provided by CPANA, and for which they have no control.
Laboratory results are attached.
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