Feb 21
Chemistry Department Seminar: Daniel Bon '90
Oil and Gas is a major contributor to Colorado’s economy. However, when development occurs at or near setback limits (500’) to existing houses, citizens often report health effects. The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) built a mobile lab to respond to oil and gas related health concerns. The Colorado Air Monitoring Mobile Laboratory (CAMML) , is equipped with a thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometer and dual flame ionization detectors and instruments to measure ozone, oxides of nitrogen, and greenhouse gases, among others. The CAMML has been deployed to locations <1000 feet from active oil drilling operations along the Front Range of Colorado. The lab is typically sited between housing developments and an active drilling site for a period of about 4 weeks during each phase of development. VOCs are measured hourly, using 45 minute, constant flow, integrated collection on a cold sorbent trap. Quantitation of peaks are done using the open-source TERN software, which performs peak fitting rather than traditional integration. Mixing ratios are compared to health guidelines developed by CDPHE and recently published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.