Application of the AERMOD modeling system for environmental impact assessment of NO₂ emissions from a cement complex

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 931 - 940
• Main Authors: Seangkiatiyuth, Kanyanee, Surapipith, Vanisa, Tantrakarnapa, Kraichat, Lothongkum, Anchaleeporn W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2011; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand%Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Bangkok 10400,Thailand%Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; cement; Construction Materials; dry season; emissions; Environment; environmental assessment; Environmental Monitoring - methods; guidelines; Humans; Industrial Waste - analysis; Models, Theoretical; National Ambient Air Quality Standards; nitrogen dioxide; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; pollution; receptors; Thailand; wet deposition; wet season; Thailand; NO2; AERMOD; environmental impact assessment; cement plant; air pollutants; Gaussian model
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(10)60499-8

We applied the model of American Meteorological Society-Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD) as a tool for the analysis of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) emissions from a cement complex as a part of the environmental impact assessment. The dispersion of NO₂ from four cement plants within the selected cement complex were investigated both by measurement and AERMOD simulation in dry and wet seasons. Simulated values of NO₂ emissions were compared with those obtained during a 7-day continuous measurement campaign at 12 receptors. It was predicted that NO₂ concentration peaks were found more within 1 to 5 km, where the measurement and simulation were in good agreement, than at the receptors 5 km further away from the reference point. The Quantile-Quantile plots of NO₂ concentrations in dry season were mostly fitted to the middle line compared to those in wet season. This can be attributed to high NO₂ wet deposition. The results show that for both the measurement and the simulation using the AERMOD, NO₂ concentrations do not exceed the NO₂ concentration limit set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of Thailand. This indicates that NO₂ emissions from the cement complex have no significant impact on nearby communities. It can be concluded that the AERMOD can provide useful information to identify high pollution impact areas for the El A guidelines.