Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Concentrations of PM2.5-associated OC, EC, and PCDD/Fs measured during the 2003 wildfire season in Missoula, Montana

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Throughout August and September, 2003, wildfires burned in close proximity to Missoula, Montana, with smoke emanating from the fires impacting the valley for much of the summer. This presented the perfect opportunity to measure the levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) comprising ambient forest fire smoke particles impacting the Missoula Valley. An air sampler at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) compliance site in Missoula measured hourly averages of PM10 throughout the fire season. Three collocated PM2.5 cyclones collected 24-h smoke samples using quartz filters and Polyurethane Foam (PUF) sorbent cartridges. From the quartz filters, concentrations of Organic and Elemental Carbon (OC/EC) were measured, while PCDD/F were measured from one set of a filter (particle phase) and PUF (vapor phase) aggregate of samples in an attempt to also investigate the different phases of PCDD/F in forest fire smoke impaired communities.

Hourly PM10 concentrations peaked at 302.9 μg m−3 on August 15. The highest OC concentration (115.6 μg m−3) was measured between August 21–22, and the highest EC concentration of 10.5 μg m−3 was measured August 20–21. Measurable concentrations of PM2.5 associated PCDD/Fs were not detected from a representative aggregate sample, with the exception of small amounts of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzodioxin and octachlorodibenzodioxin. PM2.5 samples collected during the smoke events were composed of approximately 65% OC. However, the OC fraction of the particles collected in the smoke impaired Missoula valley was not composed of significant amounts of PCDD/F.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Buckland, S., Dye, E., Leathem, S. and Taucher, J.: 1994, ‘The levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in soil samples collected form conservation areas following brush fires’, Organohalogen Compounds 20, 85–89.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clement, R. and Tashiro, C.: 1991, ‘Forest Fires as a Source of PCDD and PCDF’, in: Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds, September 23–27, 1991, Research Triangle Park, NC.

  • Environment Australia: 2002, ‘Sources of Dioxins and Furans in Australia: Air Emissions (revised edition)’, Canberra, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gullett, B. K. and Touati, A.: 2003, ‘PCDD/F emissions from forest fire simulations’, Atmos. Environ. 37, 803–813.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, E.-J., Oh, J.-E. and Chang, Y.-S.: 2001, ‘Does forest fire increase the PCDD/Fs level in soil?’, Organohalogen Compounds 50, 386–389.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montana DNRC: 2004, ‘Forestry Division Fire & Aviation Bureau Website’, available at http://dnrc.state.mt.us/forestry/dnrcfiresite/FireManagement/Statistics.aspx.

  • Prange, J. A., Gaus, C., Weber, R., Päpke, O. and Müller, J. F.: 2003, ‘Are forest fires a source of PCDD/Fs in Queensland, Australia?’, Organohalogen Compounds 60, 60–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP Chemicals: 1999, ‘Dioxins and Furan Inventories – National and Regional Emissions of PCDD/PCDF’, Geneva, Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • USEPA: 1994, ‘Method 1613. Tetra – Through Octa – Chlorinated Dioxins And Furans By Isotope Dilution HRGC/HRMS (Revision B)’, EPA/821B94005a.

  • USEPA: 1999, ‘Compendium Method TO-9A. Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air, Second Ed., Determination of Polychlorinated, Polybrominated and Brominated/Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans in Ambient Air’, EPA/625/R-96/010b.

  • USEPA: 2001, ‘Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and Related Compounds, Part I, Vol. 2: Sources of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United States’, Draft (external) Final Report, EPA/600/P-00/001Cb.

  • Van Oostdam, J. and Ward, J.: 1995, ‘Dioxins and Furans in the British Columbia Environment’, BC Environment, Environmental Protection Department, Victoria, British Columbia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, P., Brimblecombe, P., Creaser, C. and Olphert, R.: 1994, ‘Biomass burning and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans in the soil’, Organohalogen Compounds 20, 283–287.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, D. E. and Hardy, C.: 1989, ‘Organic and Elemental Profiles for Smoke from Prescribed Fires’, in: Receptor Models in Air Resources Management: Transactions of an International Specialty Conference of the Air and Waste Management Association’, 1989, Pittsburgh, PA, pp. 299–321.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.

    Tony J. Ward

  2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Lab, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.

    Emily Lincoln

Authors
  1. Tony J. Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emily Lincoln
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tony J. Ward.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ward, T.J., Lincoln, E. Concentrations of PM2.5-associated OC, EC, and PCDD/Fs measured during the 2003 wildfire season in Missoula, Montana. Environ Monit Assess 115, 39–50 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-5252-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-5252-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation