Inventory of PCBs in Chicago and Opportunities for Reduction in Airborne Emissions and Human Exposure

Caitlin E Shanahan; Scott N Spak; Andres Martinez; Keri C Hornbuckle

doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00906

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Inventory of PCBs in Chicago and Opportunities for Reduction in Airborne Emissions and Human Exposure

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Inventory of PCBs in Chicago and Opportunities for Reduction in Airborne Emissions and Human Exposure

Caitlin E Shanahan, Scott N Spak, Andres Martinez and Keri C Hornbuckle

Environmental science & technology, Vol.49(23), pp.13878-13888

12/01/2015

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00906

PMCID: PMC6201697

PMID: 26440379

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/6201697View

Open Access

Abstract

Urban areas are important regional sources of airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and population-scale airborne exposure, yet a comprehensive bottom-up source inventory of PCB emissions has never been quantified at urban scales in the United States. Here we report a comprehensive parcel level inventory of PCB stocks and emissions for Chicago, Illinois, developed with a transferable method from publicly available data. Chicago's legacy stocks hold 276 ± 147 tonnes ∑PCBs, with 0.2 tonnes added annually. Transformers and building sealants represent the largest legacy categories at 250 and 20 tonnes, respectively. From these stocks, annual emissions rates of 203 kg for ∑PCBs and 3 kg for PCB 11 explain observed concentrations in Chicago air. Sewage sludge drying contributes 25% to emissions, soils 31%, and transformers 21%. Known contaminated sites account for <1% of stocks and 17% of emissions to air. Paint is responsible for 0.00001% of stocks but up to 7% of ∑PCBs emissions. Stocks and emissions are highly concentrated and not correlated with population density or demographics at the neighborhood scale. Results suggest that strategies to further reduce exposure and ecosystem deposition must focus on the largest emissions sources rather than the most contaminated sites or the largest closed source legacy stocks.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls - analysis

Air Pollutants - analysis

Air Pollution - prevention & control

Polychlorinated Biphenyls - adverse effects

Sewage

Waste Disposal Facilities

Chicago

Humans

Environmental Monitoring - methods

Air Pollutants - adverse effects

Soil Pollutants - analysis

Details

Title: Subtitle: Inventory of PCBs in Chicago and Opportunities for Reduction in Airborne Emissions and Human Exposure
Creators: Caitlin E Shanahan - School of Urban and Regional Planning, The University of Iowa , 345 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316, United States
Scott N Spak - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering & IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316, United States
Andres Martinez - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering & IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316, United States
Keri C Hornbuckle - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering & IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Iowa , Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1316, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environmental science & technology, Vol.49(23), pp.13878-13888
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00906
PMID: 26440379
PMCID: PMC6201697
NLM abbreviation: Environ Sci Technol
ISSN: 1520-5851
eISSN: 1520-5851
Publisher: United States
Grant note: P42 ES013661 / NIEHS NIH HHS P4 2ES01366 / NIEHS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 12/01/2015
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Public Policy Center (Archive); School of Planning and Public Affairs
Record Identifier: 9983806274902771

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