Ambient Air Quality at the Site of a Former Manufactured Gas Plant

Prior to the 1950's, manufactured gas was commerciallyproduced from the pyrolysis of coal, coke, and oil atfacilities that are termed manufactured gas plants (MGPs). The constituents of residual coal tar present on many MGPsites are an environmental health concern because of theirtoxicity and the possibility for their off-site migration viawater and air. Atmospheric concentrations of five volatileorganic compounds (VOCs, e.g., benzene), sixteen polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, e.g., naphthalene), and particulate matter less than 10 microns in aerodynamicdiameter (PM10) were measured at the site of a former MGP. Air samples were obtained before, during, and after excavationof subterranean coal tar at the site. The results of thisinvestigation indicate that subterranean coal tar was not aprimary source of VOCs and PAHs in the local atmosphere beforeor after remediation of the site. However, excavation,treatment, blending, and transfer of the coal tar duringremediation generated concentrations of selected aromatic andsemi-volatile organic compounds that were substantiallygreater than typical ambient levels. In addition, these datasuggest that blending and mixing of coal tars could lead toexceedance of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standardfor PM10, although additional research is required to fullyevaluate this possibility. Nuisance odors associated with thesite remediation were likely the result of naphthalene andpossibly isomers of xylene. Air pollutant concentrationsmeasured adjacent to the excavation area and at the siteperimeter during remediation activities were less than therelevant occupational and environmental exposure limits.