A team of researchers from Texas A&M University School of Public Health and School of Medicine conducted a study on using high resolution mass spectrometry to identify air-borne contaminants following a major fire at a plastic recycling plant in Richmond, Indiana. The team found that this method could be a valuable tool for identifying and assessing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by natural and human-made disasters. The research, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, aimed to produce accurate data quickly to assist officials in determining evacuation zones following disasters like the one in Richmond.
The team utilized high resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis to monitor the air within and around the half-mile evacuation zone following the fire in Richmond. Non-targeted analysis is a new computational tool for detecting and identifying chemicals in environmental exposures and has shown promise in previous tests. The team found that this approach was more efficient in identifying all compounds present, even those not initially known to be present. This was the first time non-targeted analysis was applied to a real-world disaster, demonstrating its potential as an improved method for assessing air-borne contaminants.
The researchers identified 46 VOCs present in the air following the fire, with levels of hydrogen cyanide and four other VOCs being at least 1.8-fold higher near the site of the incident. Approximately 45 percent of the VOCs were classified as high hazards, and 39 percent were classified as very high hazards. While each VOC level detected was below hazard thresholds for single exposures, the team noted that the hazard thresholds for exposure to VOC mixtures like those present in the air following the fire were not fully understood.
Facilities such as the My Way plastic recycling plant contain large amounts of harmful toxins, making predicting the VOCs produced in fires and similar disasters challenging. Despite smaller-scale disasters like fires at recycling plants being overlooked as contributors to pollution levels, they are becoming more frequent across the United States. This highlights the importance of conducting research and applying research findings in addressing public health issues related to air-borne contaminants from disasters.
The study, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, involved collaboration between researchers from Texas A&M University and Carnegie Mellon University. The team’s findings demonstrate the potential of high resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis as effective tools for identifying and assessing air-borne contaminants following disasters. This research could provide valuable information for officials and researchers in determining evacuation zones and assessing risks to public health in the aftermath of such events.
The team’s use of the Hazard Comparison Module, with guidance from Antony Williams of US-EPA’s Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, enabled them to create a risk assessment from the VOCs present in the air following the fire. The levels of VOCs detected were found to be higher in the area studied compared to levels found in Middleton, Ohio, indicating the potential health risks posed by the air-borne contaminants following the disaster in Richmond. Further research and application of innovative methods like high resolution mass spectrometry and non-targeted analysis could contribute to improved understanding and management of air-borne contaminants in the aftermath of disasters.
