Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in Barker Reservoir in Houston, Texas after the 2017 Hurricane Harvey — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compounds and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in Barker Reservoir in Houston, Texas after the 2017 Hurricane Harvey
Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, Houston, USA
,
Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, Houston, USA
1 Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, Houston, USA
2 Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, Houston, USA
Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Barker Reservoir in Houston, Texas, United States is reported. Samples were collected within one week after the August 2017 Hurricane Harvey. Using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometer, 4 VOCs and 13 PAHs were found in the Barker Reservoir. Concentrations of acetone, benzene, chloroform, and toluene were 1500, 380, 830, and 290 parts per million (ppm), respectively. Benzene and chloroform are classified as probable human carcinogens by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Six PAHs including benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, chrysene, and dibenz[a,h]anthracene are probable human carcinogens. The most concentrated PAH was acenaphthylene at 0.068 ppm, while the least one was fluoranthene at 0.00046 ppm. Results revealed water contaminants in Houston and its vicinities during the flooding season and served as references for water monitoring purposes in the future.
KeywordsHurricane HarveyBarker ReservoirVOCsPAHsHuman CarcinogenGas ChromatographyEnvironmental MonitoringEnvironmental Health
Harris County Flood Control District (2018) Barker Reservoir. https://www.hcfcd.org/projects-studies/barker-reservoir/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-National Weather Service (2017) Major Hurricane Harvey—August 25-29, 2017. https://www.weather.gov/crp/hurricane_harvey
Amadeo, K. (2020) Hurricance Harvey Facts, Damage and Costs. The Balance. https://www.thebalance.com/hurricane-harvey-facts-damage-costs-4150087
Tucker, W.G. (2001) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Chapter 31. Spengler, J.D., McCarthy, J.F. and Samet, J.M., Eds., Indoor Air Quality Handbook, McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, 31.1-31.20.
Dinh, T.V., Choi, I.Y., Son, Y.S., Song, K.Y., Sunwoo, Y. and Kim, J.C. (2015) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Surface Coating Materials: Their Compositions and Potential as an Alternative Fuel. Journal of Environmental Management, 168, 157-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.059
Wang, Z. and Fingas, M. (1997) Developments in the Analysis of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Oils, Petroleum Products and Oil-Spilled-Related Environmental Samples by Gas Chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A, 774, 51-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(97)00270-7
Wei, W., Lv, Z., Yang, G., Cheng, S., Li, Y. and Wang, L. (2016) VOCs Emission Rate Estihod: A Case Study on a Petroleum Refinery in Northern China. Environmental Pollution, 218, 681-688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.07.062
Abdel-Shafy, H. and Mansour, M.S.M. (2016) A Review on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Source, Environmental Impact, Effect on Human Health and Remediation. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 25, 107-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpe.2015.03.011
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1995) Toxicological Profile for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp69.pdf
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Acetone CASRN 67-64-1. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=128
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Toluene CASRN 108-88-3. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=118
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benzene CASRN 71-43-2. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=276
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Chloroform CASRN 67-66-3. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=25
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Acenaphthylene CASRN 208-96-8. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=443
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Anthracene CASRN 120-12-7. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=434
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benz[a]anthracene CASRN 56-55-3. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=454
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) CASRN 50-32-8. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=136
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benzo[b]fluoranthene CASRN 205-99-2. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=453
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benzo[g,h,i]perylene CASRN 191-24-2. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=461
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Benzo[k]fluoranthene CASRN 207-08-9. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=452
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Chrysene CASRN 218-01-9. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=455
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Dibenz[a,h]Anthracene CASRN 53-70-3. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=456
United States Environmental Protection Agencyn (2018) Fluoranthene CASRN 206-44-0. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=444
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Fluorene CASRN 86-73-7. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=435
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Phenanthrene CASRN 85-01-8. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=459
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Pyrene CASRN 129-00-0. Integrated Risk Information System. National Center for Environmental Assessment. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=445
Gentry T. (2017) Texas A & M Scientist: Floodwater Tested from Hurricane Harvey Shows Dangerous Levels of Contaminants. https://news.tamus.edu/texas-am-scientist-floodwater-tested-from-hurricane-harvey-shows-dangerous-levels-of-contaminants/
Rezaee, M., Assadi, Y., Milani Hosseine, M.R., Aghaee, E., Ahmadi, F. and Berijani, S. (2006) Determination of Organic Compounds in Water Using Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction. Journal of Chromatography A, 1116, 1-9.
Zapf, A., Heyer, R. and Stan, H.J. (1995) Rapid Micro Liquid-Liquid Extraction Method for Trace Analysis of Organic Contaminants in Drinking Water. Journal of Chromatography A, 694, 453-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9673(94)01199-O
Lee, M.L., Yang, F.J. and Bartle, K.D. (1984) Open Tubular Column Gas Chromatography: Theory and Practice. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 225-226.
Adebowale, A. and Phan, T. (2017) Volatile Organic Compounds in Crude Coconut and Petroleum Oils in Nigeria. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 8, 371-379. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajac.2017.86028
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (1993) Toxicological Profile for Chloroform. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp.asp?id=53&tid=16
Wawersik, J. (1997) History of Chloroform Anesthesia. Anaesthsiol Reamin, 22, 144-152.
Morris, R.D., Audet, A.M., Angelillo, I.F., Chalmers, T.C. and Mosteller, F. (1992) Chlorination, Chlorination By-Products, and Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 82, 955-963. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.82.7.955
McGeehin, M.A., Reif, J.S., Becher, J.C. and Mangione, E.J. (1993) Case-Control Study of Bladder Cancer and Water Disinfection Methods in Colorado. American Journal of Epidemiology, 138, 492-501. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116883
Vena, J.E., Graham, S., Freudenheim, J.O., Marshall, J., Zielezny, M., Swanson, M. and Sufrin, G. (1993) Drinking Water, Fluid Intake, and Bladder Cancer in Western New York. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 48, 191-198. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1993.9940820
King, W.D. and Marret, L.D. (1996) Case Control Study of Water Sources and Bladder Cancer. Cancer Causes & Control, 7, 596-604. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00051702
Doyle, T.J., Zheng, W., Cerhan, J.R., Hong, C.P., Sellers, T.A., Kushi, L.H. and Folsom, A.R. (1997) The Association of Drinking Water Source and Chlorination By-Products with Cancer Incidence among Postmenopausal Women in Iowa: A Prospective Cohort Study. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 1168-1176. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.87.7.1168
Freedman, D.M., Cantor, K.P., Lee, N.L., Chen, L.-S., Lei, H.-H., Ruhl, C.E. and Wang, S.S. (1997) Bladder Cancer and Drinking Water: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Washington County, Maryland (United States). Cancer Causes & Control, 8, 738-744. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018431421567
Cantor, K.P., Lunch, C.F., Hildesheim, M., Dosemeci, M., Lubin, J., Alavanja, M. and Craun, G. (1998) Drinking Water Source and Chlorination By-Products. I. Risk of Bladder Cancer. Epidemiology, 9, 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001648-199801000-00007
Aksoy, M. (1989) Hematotoxicity and Carcinogenicity of Benzene. Environ. Environmental Health Perspectives, 82, 193-197. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8982193
Cronkite, E.P., Drew, R.T., Inoue, T. and Bullis, J.E. (1985) Benzene Hematotoxicity and Leukemogenesis. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 7, 447-456. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700070509
Crump, K.S. (1994) Risk of Benzene-Induced Leukemia: A Sensitivity Analysis of the Pliofilm Cohort with Additional Follow-Up and New Exposure Estimates. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 42, 219-242. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287399409531875
Rothman, N., Li, G.-L., Dosemeci, M., Bechtold, W.E., Marti, G.E., Wang, Y.-Z., Linet, M., et al. (1993) Hematotoxicity among Chineses Workers Heavily Exposed to Benzene. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 29, 236-246. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199603)29:3 3.0.CO;2-O
Rinsky, R.A., Smith, A.B., Horning, R., Hornung, R., Filloon, T.G., Young, R.J., et al. (1987) Benzene and Leukemia: An Epidemiologic Risk Assessment. The New England Journal of Medicine, 316, 1044-1050. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM198704233161702
Rinsky, R.A., Young, R.J. and Smith, A.B. (1981) Leukemia in Benzene Workers. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2, 217-245. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700020305
Smith, M.T. (1996) The Mechanism of Benzene-Induced Leukemia: A Hypothesis and Speculations on the Causes of Leukemia. Environmental Health Perspectives, 104, 1219-1225. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.961041219
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2015) Public Health Statement for Toluene. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp56-c1-b.pdf
Filley, C.M., Halliday, W. and Kleinschmidt-Demasters, B.K. (2004) The Effects of Toluene on the Central Nervous System. Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 63, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/63.1.1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/pahs_factsheet_cdc_2013.pdf