DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Modeling Human Exposure Levels to Airborne Volatile Organic Compounds by the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

  • Kim, Jong-Ho (Supply Chain Logistics Consulting Team, Samsung SDS) ;
  • Kwak, Byoung-Kyu (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Process, College of Engineering, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ha, Min-A (Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine) ;
  • Cheong, Hae-Kwan (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Yi, Jong-Heop (School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Process, College of Engineering, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2011.02.10
  • Accepted : 2012.01.06
  • Published : 2012.01.01

Abstract

Objectives: The goal was to model and quantify the atmospheric concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the result of the Hebei Spirit oil spill, and to predict whether the exposure levels were abnormally high or not. Methods: We developed a model for calculating the airborne concentration of VOCs that are produced in an oil spill accident. The model was applied to a practical situation, namely the Hebei Spirit oil spill. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the results with previous observation data. The concentrations were compared with the currently used air quality standards. Results: Evaporation was found to be 10- to 1,000-fold higher than the emissions produced from a surrounding industrial complex. The modeled concentrations for benzene failed to meet current labor environmental standards, and the concentration of benzene, toluene, orthometa- para-xylene were higher than the values specified by air quality standards and guideline values on the ocean. The concentrations of total VOCs were much higher than indoor environmental criteria for the entire Taean area for a few days. Conclusions: The extent of airborne exposure was clearly not the same as that for normal conditions.

Keywords

References

  1. Burgherr P. In-depth analysis of accidental oil spills from tankers in the context of global spill trends from all sources. J Hazard Mater 2007;140(1-2):245-256.
  2. Morita A, Kusaka Y, Deguchi Y, Moriuchi A, Nakanaga Y, Iki M, et al. Acute health problems among the people engaged in the cleanup of the Nakhodka oil spill. Environ Res 1999;81(3):185-194.
  3. Suarez B, Lope V. Perez-Gomez B, Aragones N, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Marques F, et al. Acute health problems among subjects involved in the cleanup operation following the Prestige oil spill in Asturias and Cantabria (Spain). Environ Res 2005;99(3):413-424.
  4. Lyons RA, Temple JM, Evans D, Fone DL, Palmer SR. Acute health effects of the Sea Empress oil spill. J Epidemiol Community Health 1999;53(5):306-310.
  5. Zock JP, Rodriguez-Trigo G, Pozo-Rodriguez F, Barbera JA, Bouso L, Torralba Y, et al. Prolonged respiratory symptoms in clean-up workers of the prestige oil spill. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007;176(6):610-616.
  6. Drivas PJ. Calculation of evaporative emissions from multicomponent liquid spills. Environ Sci Technol 1982;16(10):726-728.
  7. Hoult DP. Oil spreading on the sea. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 1972;4:341-368.
  8. Yang WC, Wang H. Modeling of oil evaporation in aqueous environment. Water Res 1977;11(10):879-887.
  9. Buchanan I, Hurford N. Methods for predicting the physical changes in oil spilt at sea. Oil Chem Pollut 1988;4(4):311-328.
  10. Mackay D, Bruist IA, Mascarenhas R, Paterson S; University of Toronto, Dept. of Chemical Engineering; Canada, Environmental Emergency Branch, Research and Development Division, et al. Oil spill processes and models. Ottawa: Environment Canada;1980.
  11. Lehr WJ, Fraga RJ, Belen MS, Cikerge HM. A new technique to estimate initial spill size using a modified fay-type spreading formula. Mar Pollut Bull 1984;15(9):326-329.
  12. Stiver W, Mackay D. Evaporation rate of spills of hydrocarbons and petroleum mixtures. Environ Sci Technol 1984;18(11):834-840.
  13. Sebastiao P, Soares CG . Modeling the fate of oil spills at sea. Spill Sci Technol Bull 1995;2(2-3):121-131.
  14. Fingas MF. Modeling evaporation using models that are not boundary-layer regulated. J Hazard Mater 2004;107(1-2):27-36.
  15. Chen H, Li D, Li X, Mathematical modeling of oil spill on the sea and application of the modeling in Daya Bay. J Hydrodyn 2007;19(3):282-291.
  16. Xie H, Yapa PD, Nakata K. Modeling emulsification after an oil spill in the sea. J Mar Syst 2007;68(3-4):489-506.
  17. Reed M. The physical fates component of the natural resource damage assessment model system. Oil Chem Pollut 1989;5(2-3):99-123.
  18. Nazir M, Khan F, Amyotte P, Sadiq R. Multimedia fate of oil spills in a marine environment - an integrated modelling approach. Proc Saf Environ Protect 2008;86(2):141-148.
  19. National Emergency Management Agency. Today's disaster situation display bulletin board. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.nema.go.kr/nema_cms_iba/show_nema/board/board1/list.jsp?c_relation=29&check_the_num=114&check_the_code=4&check_up_num=113 (Korean).
  20. Korean Meteorological Administration. Terrestrial observation data. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.kma.go.kr/weather/observation/currentweather.jsp (Korean).
  21. Environmental Geographic Information System. Digital elevation model and land cover map. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://egis.me.go.kr/egis/home/download/DEM/index_dem.asp (Korean).
  22. Seinfeld JH, Pandis SN. Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change. New York: Wiley; 1998, p. 766-915.
  23. Kim JH, Kim MS, Kwak BK, Yoo HS, Shin CB, Yi J. Development of national scale environmental & geographical information system for supporting exposure assessment. J Korean Soc Environ Eng 2006;28(10):1082-1089 (Korean).
  24. Ministry of Environment. Investigation of acute health problems among people exposed to the Hebei Spirit oil spill. 1st ed. Gwacheon: Ministry of Environment; 2008, p. 172-189 (Korean).
  25. Jones RK; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division. The evaporation of benzene and a series of alkanes from crude oil. Seattle, Wash: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;1992, p. 1-19.
  26. Kim MS, Kim JH, Park HS, Sun YS, Kim HS, Choi K, et al. A new approach for estimating VOC emissions from anthropogenic non-point sources in urban communities. Korean J Chem Eng 2007;24(5):763-773.
  27. Kim JH, Kwak BK, Park HS, Kim NG, Choi K, Yi J. A GISbased national emission inventory of major VOCs and risk assessment modeling: Part I - methodology and spatial pattern of emissions. Korean J Chem Eng 2009;27(1):129-138.
  28. Ministry of Labor. Exposure limits for hazardous materials and physical agents. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.moel.go.kr/download.jsp?type=/bbs/&file=%C8%AD%C7%D0%B9%B0%C1%FA%20%B9%D7%20%B9%B0%B8%AE%C0%FB%C0%CE%C0%DA%C0%C7%20%B3%EB%C3%E2%B1%E2%C1%D8(%B3%EB%B5%BF%BA%CE%B0%ED%BD%C3%20%C1%A62010-44%C8%A3).hwp (Korean).
  29. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Benzene (CASRN 71- 43-2). [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/subst/0276.htm.
  30. Government of Alberta Environment. Ambient air quality trends in alberta. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http:// www.environment.alberta.ca/documents/Ambient-Air-Quality-Trends-in-Alberta-2008.pdf.
  31. Kelessis AG, Petrakakis MJ, Zoumakis NM. Determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in urban air of Thessaloniki, Greece. Environ Toxicol 2006;21(4):440-443.
  32. Department of Environment and Heritage of Austrian Government. Chemical reference guide. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://hermes.erin.gov.au/pls/crg_public/!CRGPPUBLIC.PSTART?strAction=SearchByDocument&intDocId=5&rdoChemicalMode=NAME&intChemicalId=142&strClassMedia=n%2Fa&strClassSubclass1=n%2Fa&strClassSubclass2=n%2Fa&strClassSubclass3=n%2Fa.
  33. Anuma K, Uchiyama I, Ikeda K. The regulations for indoor air pollution in Japan: a public health perspective. J Risk Res 2008;11(3):301-314.
  34. Kim BM, Park E, LeeAn SY, Ha M, Kim EJ, Kwon H, et al. BTEX exposure and its health effects in pregnant women following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. J Prev Med Public Health 2009;42(2):96-103 (Korean).
  35. Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. Weight fraction data gathering from opening of information. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.mltm.go.kr/USR/WPGE0201/m_215/DTL.jsp (Korean).
  36. Hippelein, M. Background concentrations of individual and total volatile organic compounds in residential indoor air of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. J Environ Monit 2004;6(9):745-752.
  37. Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan. Environmental quality standards in Japan-air quality. [cited 2012 Jan 31]. Available from: http://www.env.go.jp/en/air/aq/aq.html.