Human Health Risk Assessment for Petroleum Refining Industry of the Remaining Air Toxics after MACT I Emissions Reductions

Inhalation risks on human health for hazardous air pollutants emitted from MACT I petroleum refining industry were determined using EPA HEM-3 Program. Methodology included compiling vertical and fugitive emissions from 2002 National Emissions Inventory for sources inside two facilities in Louisiana, 'Motiva Norco' and 'Valero St. Charles' refineries. Six cases were modeled applying EPA criteria, where cancer risks are 'low' if the probability is. 1/1, 000, 000, and non-cancer risks are harmful when hazard quotient is > 1. It was demonstrated that fugitive emissions have more impact on human health than the verticals because of their significant portion of the total refining emissions. HAPs can cause moderate adverse effects in humans living nearby refineries, as 113 people resulted in high risk of respiratory problems with Valero emissions, 4571 people resulted in 'moderate' risk of getting cancer with Motiva emissions, 2702 people with Valero emissions, and 11, 282 people with both refineries' emissions.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Roa, Nadia C.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kura, Bhaskar
• La Motta, Enrique
• McCorquodale, John A.

• MACT
• HEM-3
• HAPs
• NEI
• Petroleum Refining Industry
• Cancer Risk
• Non- Cancer Risk
• URE
• RfC
• ANPRM
• Organic Pollutants
• Vertical Emissions
• Fugitives Emissions
• Risk Assessmen

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/849

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1829