5/15/2013

Posted at www.aqmd.gov
May 15, 2013

Outline
 Health Effects of Wood Smoke
 Preliminary Monitoring Data
 Gradient Surveys
 Fixed-site Monitoring
 Other Results

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Wood Smoke
 Source of fine particulate (PM2.5)
 Source of carcinogenic toxic pollutants
Benzene, Formaldehyde, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PAH)
 Contains respiratory irritants
Acrolein, NOx
 Wood burning can affect indoor and outdoor air quality
 Multiple studies showing health effects:
In communities with high levels of wood combustion
 During large wildfire events

Studies in Communities with

Significant Biomass Burning
 Daily particulate matter levels associated with:
Respiratory symptoms in children with asthma
Visits to emergency rooms for asthma episodes
Hospital admissions related to respiratory symptoms

Naeher, L. et al. Woodsmoke Health Effects: A Review. Inhalation Toxicology, 19(1): 67 – 106, 2007

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Studies During Southern

California Wildfires - 2003
 Increased symptoms in children exposed to smoke
Eye, nose and throat irritation
Cough, wheezing, asthma attacks
Medication use and physician visits
 Increased respiratory-related hospital admissions
Strongest associations noted among those over 65 and
those 1-4 years of age
Kunzli, N. et al. Health Effects of the 2003 Southern California Wildfires on Children.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 174: 1221–1228, 2006;
Delfino, R. et al. The relationship of respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions to
the southern California wildfires of 2003. Occup. Environ. Med. 66:189-197, 2009

Agency Position on Wood Smoke

 California Air Resources Board
Wood smoke a serious threat to public health
Aggravates lung and heart disease
Can cause 10% increase in children's hospital admissions
for respiratory symptoms
 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Wood smoke can affect everyone
 Children, persons with existing health conditions most vulnerable
 Health risks can be reduced by switching to gaseous
fuels

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PM Health Guidance
 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5:
 Annual Average: 12 mg/m3
 24 Hour Average: 35 mg/m3

 Guidance for Public Health Officials for Wildfire Smoke

 Recommended protective measures based upon shorter term
PM exposure
 Includes Time frames as short as 1 to 3 hours
for both PM2.5 and PM10:
 89 - 138 mg/m3 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)
 139 - 351 mg/m3 - Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events,
based on public health and travel considerations”
 352 - 526 mg/m3 - Very Unhealthy
Lipsett, Michael and Barbara Materna, Wildfire Smoke A Guide for Public Health Officials, 2008.

Revising the Air Quality Index and Setting a Significant Harm Level for PM2.5, OAQPS Issue Paper
for Discussion at National Air Quality Conference, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
OAQPS, 2007.

Beach Fire Pit Emissions

 Assessed the emissions of a single fire ring for
one evening
 One fire event assumed to burn 2 bundles of
wood (approx. 32 lbs total)
 Assumed CARB fireplace emission factor
 Compared emissions to that of an average on-
road 2013 Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicle (HDDV)
 One fire pit in one evening estimated to
emit as much PM2.5 as one Heavy-Duty
Diesel Truck driving 564 miles

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SCAQMD Monitoring Studies

 Purpose
 Assess potential for human exposure to wood smoke
from beach fires
 Approach
 Deploy a combination of monitoring technologies and
sampling strategies
 Other Considerations
 Shifting meteorology, variable activity levels, technology
limitations

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Gradient Surveys
Objective:
Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at multiple
locations downwind over the course of an evening
Methods:
TSI Inc. DustTrak DRX – Measures PM1, PM2.5, PM10
on a second-by-second basis
Advantages: small, portable, high time
resolution, good survey tool for relative
measurements
Limitations: not certified to federal reference
method criteria. A drying inlet implemented to
remove humidity effects

Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/19/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background Levels
1.0

1.1

1.0

Wind 1.0
1.7
Direction 1.2 1.3
1.5
1.0 1.6
1.2 1.5 2.4 2.3 1.8
1.7
1.9
Fire pits
2.1 2.0
1.0

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Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/30/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background Levels

1.2

1.2

1.2
1.4 3.2

1.4
2.8 1.5 1.6
1.0
1.4
Stationary 2.7
Monitor 1.8
Fire pits
1.5 1.2 1.2
1.6

2.8

Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/30/13

10 Minute Average PM10 Relative to Background Levels
Ratios to Lowest Observe Measurement
1.1

1.2

1.4

1.4 2.5
1.7

1.2
4.9 1.1
2.0 2.5
Stationary 1.7
Monitor
2.2
Fire pits 2.7 1.1
1.5
1.0
2.7

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Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background
1.1

2.3

Mobile Measurements: 10
1.5 1.3 minute averages
1
Measurements:
7pm to 10pm average
1.3
3.7

15 Fire pits 1.4

4.9
1.4
Night
Wind

16 Fire pits

Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13

10 Minute Average PM10 Relative to Background
1.0 Lowest

2.2
1.3
1.2 Measurements:
Night
Wind

1.8 7pm to 10pm average

Mobile Measurements:
1.4 Relative Ratio to lowest
observed measurement
8.2

15 Fire pits 1.5

12.8
2.1 1.5

16 Fire pits

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Preliminary Results: Dockweiler State Beach 4/20/13

10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

1.0

1.5

5.0
2.0
3.5 1.5

16 2.0
1.0 1.5

1.0

3.5
Fire pits
1.5

1.0
1.0 1.0

Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: 4/06/13

10 Min Average PM2.5 Ratio to Background
1.3

2.2 1.0

1.5

3.1
10.5
6.7

2.0
Background
2.3 1.0

1.9 0.9

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Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/13/13

10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

1.0
10.8 2.4 Background
3.6 1.6
5.6 1.8
8.0
1.4 2.4
1.2

1.8 1.8
1.2 1.6

0.6 1.8 2.8 1.4

3.0
1.8
9.8 1.4
2.0 1.3
3.2
4.8
4.6

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/27/13

Gradient 1

Gradient 2

Gradient 3

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Preliminary Results:
Huntington Beach 4/27/13
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Estimated PM2.5 Relative to Background Level

10

0
0 50 100 150200 250 300 350 400 450
Distance from Beach (m)
Gradient 1 Gradient 2 Gradient 3

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 5/4/13

10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

1.1

2
1.2
1.3 0.9
1.3
5.1
0.9
3.2 1.4
3.6 3.3
1.5
2.4 1.0
1.1
3.1 1.1 1.2
3.2 1.3
1.2
1.2
4.5
1.5 1.3
1.3

1.0

0.9

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Fixed-Site Monitoring
Objective:
Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at a fixed
locations, continuously over time
Methods:
E-BAM – Measures PM2.5 on an hourly basis
Advantages: portable, low power, same
measurement principle as a Federal Equivalent
Method
Limitations: less accurate at low levels
Aethalometer – Measures Black Carbon, an
indicator of combustion, on a continuous basis
Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) - Measures
Ultrafine particles, indicative of nearby sources of
combustion

Fixed Site Monitoring: Corona Del Mar

 EBAM
 Aethalometer
 CPC
 PM2.5 Filter
Sampling
Stationary
Site
Fire pits

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5/7/13 12:00
5/6/13 12:00
5/5/13 12:00
Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar and Balboa Beach
5/4/13 12:00

Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
5/3/13 12:00
Fire pits

5/2/13 12:00
5/1/13 12:00

Balboa Beach PM2.5 (ug/m3)

4/30/13 12:00
Fixed Site Monitoring: Balboa Beach

4/29/13 12:00

USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

4/28/13 12:00
4/27/13 12:00
4/26/13 12:00
4/25/13 12:00
4/24/13 12:00
Stationary

4/23/13 12:00
4/22/13 12:00
Site

PM2.5 Time Series

Date and Time

4/21/13 12:00
4/20/13 12:00
4/19/13 12:00
4/18/13 12:00
4/17/13 12:00
4/16/13 12:00
4/15/13 12:00
4/14/13 12:00
4/13/13 12:00
4/12/13 12:00

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Corona Del Mar PM2.5 B (ug/m3)
4/11/13 12:00

Corona Del Mar PM2.5 (ug/m3)

4/10/13 12:00

Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

4/9/13 12:00
4/8/13 12:00

Fire pits
4/7/13 12:00
4/6/13 12:00
4/5/13 12:00
4/4/13 12:00
4/3/13 12:00
4/2/13 12:00
4/1/13 12:00
3/31/13 12:00
3/30/13 12:00

 EBAM
3/29/13 12:00

50

0
250

150
300

200

100
PM2.5 Estimated Concentration ug/m3)
 Hourly Average PM2.5 ug/m3

 CPC

100
120
140
160
180
200

0
20
40
60
80
 EBAM
4/12/13 0:00
4/12/13 12:00

Sampling
4/13/13 0:00
4/13/13 12:00

 PM2.5 Filter
4/14/13 0:00

EBAM 1
4/14/13 12:00
4/15/13 0:00  Aethalometer
4/15/13 12:00
4/16/13 0:00
4/16/13 12:00
4/17/13 0:00

E-BAM 5
4/17/13 12:00
4/18/13 0:00
4/18/13 12:00
4/19/13 0:00

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

4/19/13 12:00
4/20/13 0:00
4/20/13 12:00
4/21/13 0:00
4/21/13 12:00

Date/Time
4/22/13 0:00
4/22/13 12:00
4/23/13 0:00

USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

4/23/13 12:00
4/24/13 0:00
4/24/13 12:00
4/25/13 0:00
4/25/13 12:00
4/26/13 0:00
4/26/13 12:00

PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

4/27/13 0:00
4/27/13 12:00
4/28/13 0:00
4/28/13 12:00
Site
Fixed Site Monitoring: Huntington Beach

4/29/13 0:00

Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: 4/13 to 5/1

4/29/13 12:00
Stationary

Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)
4/30/13 0:00
4/30/13 12:00
5/1/13 0:00
5/1/13 12:00
5/2/13 0:00
5/15/2013

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 Maximum Hourly PM2.5 Concentration
(ug/m3) Hourly Average PM2.5 ug/m3
100

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

600
700

400
800

0
300

100
200
500
4/27/2013 0:00
4/27/2013 3:00
4/27/2013 6:00
4/27/2013 9:00

(2009)
Sat

EBAM 1
4/27/2013 12:00
4/27/2013 15:00
4/27/2013 18:00
4/27/2013 21:00
4/28/2013 0:00
4/28/2013 3:00
4/28/2013 6:00

E-BAM 5
4/28/2013 9:00

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Sun

4/28/2013 12:00

Basin (2012)
4/28/2013 15:00
4/28/2013 18:00
4/28/2013 21:00

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

4/29/2013 0:00

Beach
4/29/2013 3:00
Date/Time 4/29/2013 6:00
4/29/2013 9:00
Mon

4/29/2013 12:00

Mar
Concentration Comparison
4/29/2013 15:00

Station Fire July 4th, 2012 South Coast Huntington Corona del
4/29/2013 18:00
4/29/2013 21:00
USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

4/30/2013 0:00
4/30/2013 3:00

Beach
Balboa
PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

Preliminary Results: Maximum Hourly PM2.5

4/30/2013 6:00
4/30/2013 9:00
4/30/2013 12:00
Tues

Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
4/30/2013 15:00
Preliminary Data: Huntington Beach 4/27 to 5/1

4/30/2013 18:00
4/30/2013 21:00
Hours
Evening

5/1/2013 0:00
5/15/2013

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Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/30/13

Black Carbon and Ultrafine Particle ( 1 minute average)
250,000 25

200,000 20

150,000 15
CPC Count

BC (ug/m3)
100,000 10

50,000 5

0 0
15:33

18:23
13:51

18:40
14:08

17:49
18:06

18:57
19:14
19:31

21:13
14:59

15:50

20:56
13:00

15:16

19:48

21:30
17:32

20:22
14:42

16:41
16:58

20:39
14:25

16:07

20:05
16:24

17:15
13:17
13:34

Count MATES IV Count Max BC MATES IV BC Max

Filter analysis
Corona del Mar (3/30 to 4/19), Huntington Beach (4/24 to
current)
- PM2.5 Mass (24 hour average) – Daily Samples
• All below 12.5 ug/m3, under the 24 hour NAAQS level (35 ug/m3)
• One day nearly 40 ug/m3, day had very high gusty winds

- PM10 mass (4 hour sample, 4/6) - One Sample Only

• Sample collected from 5 to 9pm with burning activity shown to
have PM10 mass concentration of 95 ug/m3.
• 30% higher concentration than sample collected from 1 to 5pm
• Elevated levels of Potassium, an indicator for wood smoke

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Other analysis
Six Ash samples:
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Very low levels
- Elemental Analysis: Compared to wood ash, samples had high
presence of silicon and aluminum, indicative of sand content; most
other elements consistent with wood ash concentrations.
- One sample had an elevated level of total Chromium compared to
wood ash.
Five Sand samples:
- PAH: Below analytical detection

Preliminary Conclusions
• Beach fire activity is impacting PM2.5 levels at the
beach and extending into neighboring communities
• Concentrations can be up to 10 times background levels
for short periods of time in beach parking areas, up to 3
times background at residential locations
• 1-hour average PM concentrations can exceed public
health guidance levels
• Some measurements are higher than observed across
the Basin over a whole year

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Next steps
• Continue field sampling
• Consider deployment of federal equivalent
methods
• Continue to report findings to public as they
become available
• Continue to work with potentially impacted cities
and state parks
• Evaluate propane and natural gas options

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