October Air Quality St Bernard Parish

The EPA recommended daily exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is 1.4 parts per billion (ppb) (0.0014 ppm)  and was exceeded throughout the month.…..inhaling more than this concentration on a daily basis poses an appreciable risk of deleterious effects.

http://www.epa.gov/iris/toxreviews/0061tr.pdf . "Exposure to lower concentrations can result in eye irritation, a sore throat and cough, nausea, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs." "Long-term, low-level exposure may result in fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, poor memory, and dizziness."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide
http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2012/02/hydrogen-sulfide-exposure.h

The State of California air quality standard limits ambient levels of hydrogen sulfide to 30 ppb H2S. The State of Louisiana has does not have such a standard. Hydrogen sulfide levels in Chalmette Vista exceeded 30 ppb H2S in October 2012, with the highest reading at 53 ppb H2S. 

Other States have lower hydrogen sulfide air quality limits.
Other states

The EPA health standard for sulfur dioxide is 75 ppb SO2. The Louisiana DEQ has stated Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) at the 12 ppb SO2 level triggers headaches and other adverse effects.

The health standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is 35 ug/m3. This standard was exceeded already in October 2012, according to the three community monitors.
Air Quality in October in St Bernard Parish

 

St Bernard Parish three ambient air monitors shown above

Above graph of location of the three community ambient air monitors along with the former monitor locations on the west bank of the river and the local High School.  The former locations were used for a LDEQ air quality study when the sulfur limit was 140 ppb SO2.  Now it is 75 ppb SO2.


In addition to the three community monitors, other air sample results are available at the Valero Ventura Drive site, under documents .  Some of these Valero air sample results are linked below.
Some refineries post real-time fenceline data, like here at a Phillips refinery.  Notice the larger "green belt" buffer in the photo.  

Valero Ventura Drive Sample date -- analyzed date

10/07/2012 sample analyzed 10/12/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%2010-7-12.pdf
10/01/2012 sample analyzed 10/11/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%2010-1-12.pdf
9/25/2012 sample analyzed 10/3/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%209-25-12.pdf
9/19/2012 sample analyzed 9/24/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%209-19-12.pdf
9/13/2012 sample analyzed 9/20/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%209-13-12.pdf
9/07/2012 sample analyzed 9/18/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%209-7-12.pdf
9/01/2012 sample analyzed 9/13/2012
http://lena.providenceeng.com/Reports/CAMs%20Lab%20Data%209-1-12.pdf

Excess emissions 2012 2nd Quarter

Excess emissions 2012 1st Quarter