Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pilot study investigating ambient air toxics emissions near a Canadian kraft pulp and paper facility in Pictou County, Nova Scotia

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Air toxics are airborne pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, including certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), prioritized by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While several EPA-designated air toxics are monitored at a subset of Canadian National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) sites, Canada has no specific “air toxics” control priorities. Although pulp and paper (P&P) mills are major industrial emitters of air pollutants, few studies quantified the spectrum of air quality exposures. Moreover, most NAPS monitoring sites are in urban centers; in contrast, rural NAPS sites are sparse with few exposure risk records. The objective of this pilot study was to investigate prioritized air toxic ambient VOC concentrations using NAPS hourly emissions data from a rural Pictou, Nova Scotia Kraft P&P town to document concentration levels, and to determine whether these concentrations correlated with wind direction at the NAPS site (located southwest of the mill). Publicly accessible Environment and Climate Change Canada data (VOC concentrations [Granton NAPS ID: 31201] and local meteorological conditions [Caribou Point]) were examined using temporal (2006–2013) and spatial analytic methods. Results revealed several VOCs (1,3-butadiene, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride) routinely exceeded EPA air toxics-associated cancer risk thresholds. 1,3-Butadiene and tetrachloroethylene were significantly higher (p < 0.05) when prevailing wind direction blew from the northeast and the mill towards the NAPS site. Conversely, when prevailing winds originated from the southwest towards the mill, higher median VOC air toxics concentrations at the NAPS site, except carbon tetrachloride, were not observed. Despite study limitations, this is one of few investigations documenting elevated concentrations of certain VOCs air toxics to be associated with P&P emissions in a community. Findings support the need for more research on the extent to which air toxics emissions exist in P&P towns and contribute to poor health in nearby communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2005) Toxicological profile for carbon tetrachloride. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • Al-Khulaifi NM, Al-Mudhaf HF, Alenezi R, Abu-Shady ASI, Selim MI (2014) Seasonal and temporal variations in volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait. J Environ Prot 5:310–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • An T, Huang Y, Li G, He Z, Chen J, Zhang C (2014) Pollution profiles and health risk assessment of VOCs emitted during e-waste dismantling processes associated with different dismantling methods. Environ Int 73:186–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ATSDR (2007a) Toxicological profile for benzene. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • ATSDR (2007b) Public health statement for benzene. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • ATSDR (2014a) Public health statement. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • ATSDR (2014b) Draft toxicological profile for 1,3-butadiene. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • Bates DV, Caton RB (eds) (2002) A citizen’s guide to air pollution. David Suzuki Foundation, Vancouver

    Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2011) Ambient air monitoring protocol for PM2.5 and ozone: Canada-wide standards for particulate matter and ozone. http://www.ccme.ca/files/Resources/. Accessed 22 Oct 2015

  • Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) SC 1999, c 33. http://www.canlii.ca/. Accessed 5 Oct 2015

  • Chagger HK, Jones JM, Pourkashanian M, Williams A, Owen A, Fynes G (1999) Emission of volatile organic compounds from coal combustion. Fuel 78:1527–1538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cicolella A (2008) Volatile organic compounds (VOC): definition, classification and properties. Rev Mal Respir 25:155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clean Air Act (1970) Clean Air Act, SS 1986-87-88, c C-12.1. http://www.canlii.org. Accessed 5 Oct 2015

  • Clougherty JE (2010) A growing role for gender analysis in air pollution epidemiology. Environ Health Perspect 118:167–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) (2009) Comprehensive Assessment of North American Air Emissions Inventories and Ambient Air Monitoring Networks. http://www3.cec.org/. Accessed 30 Oct 2015

  • Craig L, Brook JR, Chiotti Q, Croes B, Gower S, Hedley A et al (2008) Air pollution and public health: a guidance document for risk managers. J Toxicol Environ Health A 71:588–698

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crouse DL, Peters PA, van Donkelaar A, Goldberg MS, Villeneuve PJ, Brion O et al (2012) Risk of non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality in relation to long-term exposure to low concentrations of fine particulate matter: a Canadian national-level cohort study. Environ Health Perspect 120:708–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ECCC (2012) Facility & substance information. http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 29 March 2015

  • ECCC (2013a) Manual of surface weather observations. http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 16 June 2016

  • ECCC (2013b) Quality management systems http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 16 June 2016

  • ECCC (2014) National pollutant release inventory. http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 22 Feb 16

  • ECCC (2015a) Air and radiation. http://www3.epa.gov/air/. Accessed 18 Oct 2015

  • ECCC (2015b) Facility & substance information. http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 8 Sept 2016

  • Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) (2004) National Air Pollution Surveillance network quality assurance and quality control guidelines. http://www.ec.gc.ca/. Accessed 16 June 2016

  • EPA (2013) A synthesis of completed community-scale air toxics ambient monitoring projects. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 11 Nov 2015

  • EPA (2015a) About air toxics. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 18 Oct 2015

  • EPA (2015b) Urban air toxic pollutants. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 21 Sept 2015

  • EPA (2015c) National air toxics assessments. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 21 Sept 2015

  • EPA (2015d) National air toxics trends station work plan template. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 16 Oct 2015

  • Galarneau E, Wang D, Dabek-Zlotorzynska E, Siu M, Celo V, Tardif M et al (2016) Air toxics in Canada measured by the National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) program and their relation to ambient air quality guidelines. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 66:184–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson MD, Kundu S, Satish M (2013) Dispersion model evaluation of PM2.5, NOx and SO2 from point and major line sources in Nova Scotia, Canada using AERMOD Gaussian plume air dispersion model. Atmos Pollut Res 4:157–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He Z, Li G, Chen J, Huang Y, An T, Zhang C (2015) Pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds emitted from different plastic solid waste recycling workshops. Environ Int 77:85–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Health Canada (2010) Windsor exposure assessment study (2005–2006): data summary for volatile organic compound sampling. http://publications.gc.ca/. Accessed 10 Nov 2015

  • Hewitt ML, Parrott JL, McMaster ME (2006) A decade of research on the environmental impacts of pulp and paper mill effluents in Canada: sources and characteristics of bio-active substances. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 9:341–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman E, Bernier M, Blotnicky B, Golden PG, Janes J, Kader A et al (2015) Assessment of public perception and environmental compliance at a pulp and paper facility: a Canadian case study. Environ Monit Assess 187:766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman E, Lyons J, Boxall J, Robertson C, Lake CB, Walker TR (2017) Spatiotemporal assessment (quarter century) of pulp mill metal(loid) contaminated sediment to inform remediation decisions. Environ Monit Assess 189:257. doi:10.1007/s10661-017-5952-0

  • Hopke PK (2016) Review of receptor modeling methods for source apportionment. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 66:237–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (IOM) (2011) Long-term health consequences of exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://iom.nationalacademies.org/. Accessed 1 March 2016

  • Kelly FJ, Fussell JC (2015) Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk. Environ Geochem Health 37:631–649

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacAskill ND, Walker TR, Oakes K, Walsh M (2016) Forensic assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at the former Sydney Tar Ponds and surrounding environment using fingerprint techniques. Environ Pollut 212:166–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCulloch A (2003) Chloroform in the environment: occurrence, sources, sinks and effects. Chemosphere 50:1291–1308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mirabelli MC, Wing S (2006) Proximity to pulp and paper mills and wheezing symptoms among adolescents in North Carolina. Environ Res 102:96–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morello-Frosch RA, Woodruff TJ, Axelrad DA, Caldwell JC (2000) Air toxics and health risks in California: the public health implications of outdoor concentrations. Risk Anal 20:273–292

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation (NP) (2016a) Environment. http://www.northernpulp.ca/. Accessed 3 April 2016

  • Nova Scotia Department of Environment (NSE) (2014) Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). http://novascotia.ca/nse/. Accessed 27 Nov 27 2015

  • NP (2016b) Our company http://www.northernpulp.ca/. Accessed 3 April 2016

  • NSE (2015) 2015 industrial approval for NP Nova Scotia. Province of Nova Scotia Environment Act, S.N.S. 1994–95, c.1

  • Ogden JG III (1972) Oxygen demand of effluent from a bleached kraft pulp mill. Water Air Soil Pollut 1:365–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver JE (ed) (2008) Encyclopedia of world climatology. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Pascal M, Pascal L, Bidondo ML, Cochet A, Sarter H, Stempfelet M, Wagner V (2013) A review of the epidemiological methods used to investigate the health impacts of air pollution around major industrial areas. J Environ Public Health 2013:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Pictou County Health Authority (PCHA) (2008) Health status profile. http://www.pcha.nshealth.ca/. Accessed 15 Nov 2015

  • Reid DS (1989) Pictonians, pulp mill and pulmonary diseases. Nova Scotia Med J 68:146–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryerson TB, Trainer M, Holloway JS, Parrish DD, Huey LG, Sueper DT et al (2001) Observations of ozone formation in power plant plumes and implications for ozone control strategies. Science 292:719–723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sonoma Technology, Inc (STI) (2009) Lewiston area air toxics data analysis. http://wwwnezperceorg/ Accessed 1 Nov 2105

  • Soskolne CL, Sieswerda LE (2010) Cancer risk associated with pulp and paper mills: a review of occupational and community epidemiology. Chronic Dis Can 29:86–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto AM, Justicia H, Wray JW, Sonnenschein C (1991) p-Nonyl-phenol: an estrogenic xenobiotic released from “modified” polystyrene. Environ Health Perspect 92:167–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Canada (2011) Households and the environment: energy use. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/. Accessed 8 Sept 2016

  • Statistics Canada (2013) Health profile 2013. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/. Accessed 12 Nov 2015

  • Toren K, Persson B, Wingren G (1996) Health effects of working in pulp and paper mills: malignant diseases. Am J Ind Med 29:123–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1985) Survey of chloroform emission sources. http://www3.epa.gov/. Accessed 15 Oct 2015

  • Villeneuve PJ, Jerrett M, Su J, Burnett RT, Chen H, Brook J et al (2013) A cohort study of intra-urban variations in volatile organic compounds and mortality, Toronto, Canada. Environ Pollut 183:30–39

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR, Crittenden PD, Young SD (2003a) Regional variation in the chemical composition of winter snow pack and terricolous lichens in relation to sources of acid emissions in the USA river basin, northeast European Russia. Environ Pollut 125:401–412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker TR, Young SD, Crittenden PD, Zhang H (2003b) Anthropogenic metal enrichment of snow and soil in north-eastern European Russia. Environ Pollut 121:11–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2016) Ambient air pollution: a global assessment of exposure and burden of disease. http://www.who.int/. Accessed 29 Sept 2016

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) WHO air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide: global update 2005. http://www.who.int/ . Accessed 1 March 2016

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Emma Hoffman, Tony R. Walker & Kate Sherren

  2. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Judith R. Guernsey, Jong Sung Kim & Pantelis Andreou

Authors
  1. Emma Hoffman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Judith R. Guernsey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tony R. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jong Sung Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kate Sherren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pantelis Andreou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emma Hoffman.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Constantini Samara

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 1889 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hoffman, E., Guernsey, J.R., Walker, T.R. et al. Pilot study investigating ambient air toxics emissions near a Canadian kraft pulp and paper facility in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 20685–20698 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9719-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9719-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation