Airborne Organic Toxins in Anchorage Ambient & Indoor Air      Will Changes in Gasoline Composition Affect Toxics Levels? (study updates) Air Quality Program Municipality of Anchorage Dr. Mary Ellen Gordian UAA

Why monitoring airborne organic toxics? In 1996 study, benzene level in Anchorage homes (attached garage) was 5-times higher than homes in lower 48 Alaska gasoline has higher benzene content (roughly 5%) than gasoline in lower 48 EPA’s new regulation: max benzene content in gasoline < 1.3 % by July 2012 Other notes on hazardous VOCs are that We don’t have new information on benzene level We don’t have any information about PAHs B/C PAH emissions increases at cold temperature, information of PAHs in the air in Anchorage may be particularly important Lower benzene levels in indoor & ambient air ? Any effects on other toxics like other VOCs, PAHs ?

new rule Year Other notes on hazardous VOCs are that We don’t have new information on benzene level We don’t have any information about PAHs B/C PAH emissions increases at cold temperature, information of PAHs in the air in Anchorage may be particularly important Year

Study Methods (Oct 2008 – Oct 2009) VOC in gasoline Regular & premium grades were collected from 12 – 20 selected gas stations in Anchorage, bi-monthly for 6 times VOC in indoor air Selected 509 homes with attached garage Passive organic-vapor monitoring badges were exposed to indoor air for a week Other notes on hazardous VOCs are that We don’t have new information on benzene level We don’t have any information about PAHs B/C PAH emissions increases at cold temperature, information of PAHs in the air in Anchorage may be particularly important VOC & PAH in ambient air 24-hour air samples were collected for VOC & PAH once every 6 days at Airport Heights (residential area near Merrill Field Airport)

4-7 times higher inside homes Annual mean conc. in gasoline, indoor & ambient air VOC types Gasoline (%) Indoor air (ppbv) Ambient air (ppbv) Benzene 5.1 4.7 1.06 Ethylbenzene 2.6 1.3 0.19 Toluene 18.4 12.8 1.85 Xylenes 14.4 5.8 0.87 Total BETX 40.5 24.6 3.96 Other notes on hazardous VOCs are that We don’t have new information on benzene level We don’t have any information about PAHs B/C PAH emissions increases at cold temperature, information of PAHs in the air in Anchorage may be particularly important 4-7 times higher inside homes

More air toxins in winter!! Seasonal changes in ambient VOC & PAH More air toxins in winter!! Annual mean What about median? Other notes on hazardous VOCs are that We don’t have new information on benzene level We don’t have any information about PAHs B/C PAH emissions increases at cold temperature, information of PAHs in the air in Anchorage may be particularly important Annual mean 2008 2009

Nat’l Ranking of Other VOC Anchorage’s ranking in the Nation (2008-2009) Source: EPA database (2008) What about comparing to other residential monitoring sites in winter cities? Instead of comparing with EPA’s Superfund areas? Anchorage may be #1 for all categories… What about outdoor benzene level? This slide shows national ranking of ambient-air benzene levels for 2007. Other large cities on Pacific Coast are doing much better than Anchorage. .... Anchorage Seattle Minneapolis Ethylbenzene 7 40 247 Toluene 2 122 232 Xylene 37 214 Nat’l Ranking of Other VOC

Benzene ranking #3-5 --- Tonawanda, NY Source: Clean air coalition of western New York (www.cacwny.org/site.html)

Other locations that made TOP 10 for 3 categories: Azusa, Los Angels co, CA. Burbank, Los Angels co, CA Elizabeth, NJ High-volume traffic Heavy industrial area Trucking/train hub Large facility of chemical company 280 78 78 Trucking & cargo hub Newark Int’l Airport 95