Results of Air Monitoring in Eagle River

Internal DNR memo, April 6, 2000*

Introduction

The Northland Pines Schools District buildings are located in the city of Eagle River in very close proximity to the Derby Track, a snowmobile racing facility. Between January 16 and January 23, 2000 a major snow mobile racing event was held at the facility. Linda Kunelius, the school superintendent, had requested our help in determining if there are possible health impacts for her students. The Air Monitoring Program conducted monitoring to determine the impacts of the automobile and snowmobile emissions on the school building. The air monitoring project included both continuous monitoring for carbon monoxide as well as discrete sampling for hazardous air contaminants. Discrete sampling was conducted during school hours; (this also included weekend hours).

A monitoring station was operated from 1/11/2000 to 1/25/2000 in the Northland Pines Middle School. The station was located in a class room on the west side of the school. The sampling probes were placed outside the room window. All sampling and monitoring equipment was mounted in a single equipment rack.

Results

Carbon Monoxide -- Carbon monoxide is both a tracer compound for mobile sources and a toxic compound itself. A review of the hourly average data from midnight 1/12/2000 to noon 1/24/2000 showed only low levels of carbon monoxide. A distribution of hourly average shown in Figure 1 indicates 95% (286/301 hours) of the measured concentrations were less than 0.6 ppm. The Maximum hourly average was 3 ppm. All measured values are well below both the 8-hour standard (9 ppm) and the 1 .hour standard (35 ppm)

Volatile Organic Compounds -- A total of seven samples were collected during the monitoring program. Samples were collected from 08:00-16:00 hours to measure impacts during the period of school operation. The carbon monoxide tracer species did not suggest any significant period of impact during sampling. A subset of three samples was selected for complete analysis. A summary of monitoring results is provided in Table 1a.

Carbonyl Compounds (Oxygenated Hydrocarbons -- A total of seven samples were collected for carbonyl analysis. These samples coincided with and were paired with the Volatile Organic Compounds described above. Results of the analysis are listed in Table 1b.

Discussion

National Ambient Air Quality Standards have been established for carbon monoxide for periods of 1-hour and 8-hours. All measured carbon monoxide concentrations are well below both the 8-hour standard (9 ppm) and the 1-hour standard (35 ppm). Peak concentration were seen on Friday evening after normal school hours.

No ambient air quality standards are in effect for the volatile organic compounds or the carbonyl species. Measured concentrations from this study will be evaluated against concentrations measured at other Wisconsin locations. Inquiries about the health effects of measured pollutants should be directed to Jeff Myers, the Air Program Toxicologist. Jeff can be reached at his phone number (608)-266-2879.

A majority (26/36) of the target volatile organic compounds was not detected. Most detected compounds were measured at concentrations within the range of concentrations measured at other Wisconsin Urban areas (Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Rapids). Two compounds that should be noted are 1,1,1 Trichloroethane and Toluene. Measured 1,1,1 Trichloroethane concentrations were higher than the maximum concentrations measured in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Rapids. Measured 1,1,1-Trichloroethane concentrations were within the concentrations range measured at Green Bay, but greater than the annual average. The toluene concentration measured on 1/22/2000 was greater than the maximum measured at Green Bay, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Rapids.

Six of fourteen carbonyl species were detected in Eagle River. Measured concentrations of acetone, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are within the concentrations measured at other urban monitoring locations. At this time, the Department .s Air Program does not have enough data for comparison with the remaining carbonyl species.

Method

Sampling was conducted according the protocol set forth in "Air Monitoring Plan for Eagle River Schools," a memorandum from Mark K. Allen to Tom Sheffy and Robin Capen.

Acknowledgment

The Air Monitoring program would like to acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of the staff of the Northland Pines School District. Special thanks to Ms. Lorine Walters and her students who assisted in the collection of air samples.

Figure 1: The distribution of hourly carbon monoxide concentrations measured at the Eagle River Middle School. The majority of hourly concentrations are less than 1 ppm.

* Memo from Mark Allen, DNR Chemist, to Tom Sheffy, Monitoring Section Chief, DNR Bureau of Air Management, and Robin Capen, DNR Northern Region, air program compliance specialist

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