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4-1963

A Pilot Study of Air Pollution in Jacksonville,FloridaJames P. Sheeky

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Recommended CitationA Pilot Study of Air Pollution in Jacksonville, Florida. 1963. George W. Simons, Jr. Planning Collection. University of North Florida,Thomas G. Carpenter Library Special Collections and Archives. UNF Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/simonsflorida/23/

A PILOT STUDY OF AIR PO~LUTiqN IN JACKSONVILLE , FLORIDA

James P. Sheeky et alo , U.S. Dep a rtment of Health j Education

and Welfare- Public H8aith Servi~e~ Apri l 1963

71National attention was focused on air pollution in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1948 , when nylon apparel disintegrated on local residents ; the cause: air pollution. In the years that followed~ an ever increasing number of complaints were registered regarding air pollution in the Jac lcsonville ·- Duval County area. In the spring of 1961, damage to vegetation occurred ; the prime suspect: air pollution. ;;

;·' The air quality data collected durinr: these s "cudies indicated that certain air pollutants (flourides, sulfur dioxide and oxidants) were pres ent in significant leve ls in the air over Jacksonville.~~

nAirborne flou~""'ide concentrations capable of causing damage to sensitive plants under proper grov.rth condj_tions wei'e found during the study. The data indicated that conditions for transport of objectionable conc entrations of airborne flourides across the St. John's River into the Arlington area ~o occur. n

'' Although no high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were observed during this study, darkening of lead~base pa1nts and paints containing mercury-base fungicides in the Arlington area subsequent to the study indicates that a problem due to hydrogen sulfide does exist there. 11

'':Oxidant concentrations observed during this study, although less th~ti those ~easured iri Los Angeles during severe pollution, indicate that photochemical-type smog similar to that produced in the Los Angeles area is being produced in the city of Jacksonville. The maximum oxidant level measured by the phenolphthalin method during August 3 to 10, 1961, was 0.162 parts per million (ppm) by volume (as hydrogen peroxide). 11

11 Sulfur dioxide concentrations observed during the nonheating season in which the s-tudy was conducted were generally low. The maximum concentration observed during this study was 0.174 ppm~ a value ~imilar to maximums observed in larger cities of the country. This high value probably was due to emission of sulfur dioxide from a major source. It can be expected that sulfur dioxide levels would be higher during the winter months in Jacksonville. Major sources of sulfur dioxide may cause periodic occurrence of con­centrations higher than those observed, at certain locations in the Jacksonville area, possibly reaching levels that would cause damage to sensitive plants.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of the urban anc. industrial S.!'ea investigations it is concluded that:

1. Photochemical smog is being produced in the air over Jacksonvi1le.

2. Concentrations of flourides occurred in certain parts of Jacksonville during the study that could cause damage to sensitive plants.

3. Pollutants from the city of Jacksonville are transported across the St. John~ s Rl~ .... er.

RECOMrJIENDATIONS

Levels of certain air pollutants found during these studies indicate that the Jacksonville- Duval County area has air pollu­tion problems. The following recommendations are therefore made:

1. A full - time air pollution control program should be activated. This program shculd encompass the area affected by the air environment receiving the pollutants emitted in the Jacksonville-Duval County area. The study conducted in August­September, 1961, demonstrated that pollution from the city of Jacksonville can af~ect areas outside of the cj_ty. Visual ob­servations indicate that meteoroligical conditions do occur that could transport pollutants from outside the city into the Jacksonville area. The air pollution control program should encompass the area within a distance of 25 miles or more from the city of Jacksonville.

2. The air pollution control program should include fur­ther evaluations of air pollutcnt levels and source emissions, and monitoring of possibl~ effedts of air pollutants on plants and property. Such studies are necessary to determine whether progress is being made in protecting the air environment of the Jacksonville area, and whether new air pollution problems are arising.

3. A continuing micrometeorological study should be an integral part of this program. Such a study would not only allow a better understanding of relationships between source emissions and ground level concentrations, but would provide the necessary scientific data required for planning proper utilization of the air environment.

4. Since completion of thls study, certain of the lndustrial plants have instituted additional control procedures, and have made operational changes to decrease pollutants emitted to the Jacksonville atmosphere. A repeat of the study conducted in the industrjal area would provide information on the effectiveness of these control procedures and process changes.

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INVENTORY OF EMISSIONS

The values in this emfssion inventory ~re e etimates and should not be construed to be absolute, Fo~ this reason, all estimates have been rounded off to t~o sign~ficant figures. Equally important is the fact that the Tablc t-3 do not include all pollutants that are emitted to the air over Jacksonville. Estimates were made only for those classes of pollutants that have been implicated as possibly having an adverse ~ffect o~ man or his environment and for which emission factors are Rvail~bleo As further investigations are conducted in the fielci anj new ~indings are published, estimates such as those contained in this report would be listed for a far greater number of pollutantsQ

ORGANIC GASES- Hydrocarbons: It is estimated that 120 tons of hydrocarbons per day are emft t eJ to tl1c air environQent i n the Jacksonville area (Table J). A}~) p:t · o 'c~t".c .. t ::; ::.? cne-·t.hird of these emissions come from transport aticn so~~ces p In the Jacksonville area the hydrocarbon emission rate ot approx i mately 1 ton per square mile per day approached the rate estimeted in Los Angeles. Hydro­carbons and oxides of nitrogen tn sufficient quantities can react in the presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog. This inventory indicated that the city of Jacksonville has a potential photochemical smog problem.

Aldehydes, Ketones and Other Organic Gases: There is an expected increase in emission from summer to wi~ter, resulting from the load imposed on the air envJ1'lonment by domestic heating.

INORGANIC GASES-Oxides of Nitrogen: Approximately 93 tons of oxides of nitrogen are emitted per day during the summer months in the Jacksonville area. It has been estimated that this amount doubles during the winter months because of domestic heating activities. Emission rates of oxides of nitrogen are comparable on a unit area basis to those of other cormn.uni ties experiencing photochemical smog. As was the case in the estimated hydrocarbon emissions, these data indicate that Jacksonville has a potentia l photochemical smog problem.

Oxides of Sulfur: sulfur are emitted of these emissions problems resulting these sources.

During the summer months !) 240 tons of oxides of to the atmosphere per day. Ninety-nine percent are from local sources. It is indicated that from oxides of sulfur might occur in areas near

During the winter months, it is estimated that emissions of oxides of sulfur increase to more than 400 tons per day. This expected increase is due to home heating activities.

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OXIDES OF CARBON - Carbon Monoxide: Approximately 98 percent of the daily emission of 360 tons i s from tranPportation sources. Although the total amount emitted to tte air iJ large, it is felt that carbon monoxide does not constit~t e &n arsa wide problem in the Jacksonville area. Because the maior s~urce i8 the automobile, however, problems might occur among indi v::':..d,L:l1b \A~o ::..,.. '. :lng j_n the environment immediately adjacent to main thoroughfarer o

Carbon Dioxide: Most ir~est5. gato~s do not include carbon dioxide in their consideratio~ rf ~~ r pol~utior1 proh~ ems. Certain rRsearchers however, are concerne-1 r _: ,ou·;-; t~ t:e ~:_ c !:':!g J_"lE.Lgs effect of this pollutant on man's environme~t . ~l 2 s ~ ~ i11 :9 39~ rt ated that a relationship exists between the i::1c ~"1-} E'. S2 ~~-n CJ.1:bo n d5.ox lde content of the atmos­phere due to man 9 s activities; and an increase in the annual average temperature of certain F:ur··Y:::H-::an c i ti.es" Ka<; J c;. n ~ on the other hand, has presented evidence t hat t ~ ho :L:lC.P0 C..~'f- ' :L.l c c:r• iJ0ll dioxide content could only account for J 0 :)r-;r:::~e .. TL c. f · , ~ _, ~ ~ r :c1.nu.a 1 increase in average temperature.

What the long term effect o~ jnc~eEsi:1g carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere will be, only time wil1 tell. Carbon dioxide in combination with wate!' vapor~ t.:-:>WPVCt:"l:. can cause the deterioration of building materials such a s limestone and also cause the corrosion of maghesium.

Estimated daily summer and winter emissions of carbon dioxide to the air over the Jacksonville ~~ea a7e 16,000 and 31,000 tons, respec­tively. All these emissiona result fro@ coMbustion processes. This pollutant could be used as an index of over-all combustion activities in the Jacksonville area. Other investigators have used carbon dioxide in this manner. Carbon dioxide concentrations over any city would be much higher than any other pollutant, and, therefore, easier to measure.

OTHER INORGANIC GASES - Hydrogen Sulfide : The summer and winter estimates are 5.1 and 7. 7 .;_;ol.t S p e ~ ~ dd} s r ~~;-;pecti vely. The water aeration plants in the city~ whicl1 Eillit 0.15 tons of hydrogen sulfide per day, are a particularly trou~j_eso~ne cause of nuisance complaints since the pollutant is emitted near ground level.

Sulfide-type damage to paints containing lead pigments and/or mercury base fungicides has occurred in the Jacksonville area. It can be presumed that emissions of hydrogen sulfide may cause an air pollution problem in this community.

Hydrogen Fluoride: It is estimated, based largely on data provided by industrial representatives in the area, that an average of 0.06 tons per day of fluorides are emitted annually from industrial pro­cesses. Because of variations in production rates, however, emissions

·-4-

on any given day may be considera~ly more or less than the average. In the space heating season, an additionnl 0.01 tons of fluorides are emitted per day from domestic ~our~es. it ia doubtful whether the fluoride contribution of th2 arEawide domestic source constitutes an air pollution problem o 1 i~Y,_is inventor·y indica·t;es that the industrial process emission of 0.06 tons per day from local sources might be a problem in the vicinity of certain industrial operations. This should be the subject of further study.

PARTICULATES - Thirty tons a:~e C.isch&r.?,;( . .;d daily during the summer months; this increases to 1:8 tens }~J Cl" ;~l.:1y C'lring the winter season, the increase being O.ue tc.; C.o!:18~ti8 heating a.ctivities.

It is improbable that these a~ou~ts o~ Darti culates discharged to the atmosphere would constitr~te ::.;. f; Ote:;_ -f . 7 _ a ~1 . er:-.: .l ' - ~: c:,~ nir pollution problem, A potential nuisance ~ight ex~et~ ~1owever~ in areas close to local sources.

Classification of sources in estimating pollutant emissions:

Classification Local sources

Area sources

Source Type Power generation - power production for municipal and domestic con­sumption

Incineratio~ - municipal incinerat­ors

"'Jater aeratior1 - :rt!ni cipal plants for removal of hydrogen sulfide from well waters

Industrial combustion

Commercial - stores, office build­i~gs, hotels, launderies, dry cl~&ner3, gasoline handling and marketing~ and bulk petroleum stor­age operations

Domestic - home heating, cooking, and hot water heating

Transportation - automobiles, die­sel vehicles, diesel switch engines

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METEOROLIGICAL STUDIES

Jacksonville, Florida, in general is quit e we ll located topogra­phically for the disperos::ton of wa3te mat e rial err •. :it'c.ec~ to the atmos ­phere. There are no hills to uct a.s ba r 1'Je r>s to 2.l r flow over the terrain, or valleys to hole!. and con ce:.1.t!"at.e pollutants in the alr. Unfortunately, there are other conditions in tl1e area conducive to concentrating contamin~nts rele ased to the atmosphere.

In the southeastern portion of the United States, it is not un­usual for large high pressure systems in t~e atmosphere to move very slowly. This causes stable condit -t or:.s :.1e c. r tlv:: e a:cth's surface and, frequently, at some point ebove the ground beca~s e of the subsidence in the air mass and radiational cooling dur i ng the hours of darkness. Surface- based inversionn in the Jacksonvj . ll~ ~re a occ ur throughout the year and are genera lly ac companied by .light surface vJinds. In addi -­tion, th0 industrial are a and the principal busine ss district of the city lie along the west bank of the St. John's River, which flows from south to north for approximately L~ miles. At both ends of this 4- mile stretch, the river makes a 90 - degree turn. The river and city buildings have a direct influence on wind direction and speed in this area.

The dispersion of gas e ous and fine - particulate wastes emitted to the atmosphere is associated with the height ct which they are re ­leased, wind speed and direction, and the st ability condition of the atmosphere, among othe r things.

Good dispersion of any contaminant is favored by its release at high levels 8.bove the ground, high wlnd speeds (with associated tur­bulence), and unstable conditions in the lowe r leve ls of the a tmos ­phere. Even under such conditions, strong winds may bring some con­taminants to ground level in relatively high concentrations. This would result from looping of the st 2ck plume a ssociated with turbu­lent air currents (gusty winds) developed in the atmosphere because of surface obstructions and/or change s in direction and speed of the wind.

Poor dispersion of pollutants emitted to the atmosphere occurs when stable air layers (inversion) form either at the ground or with­in a few hundred f eet above the surface. The development of such stable conditions in the lower levels prevents vertical mixing of pollutants and holds them within or below the se invGrsions. Low win~ speeds accomp any such stable conditions. In the Jacksonville area, conditions for poor dispersion of contaminants frequently exist during all months of the year.

The analyses of meteorological conditions in the ar~~ establish· the strong possibility that air pollution problems will intensify un­less some preventive action iS taken.

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SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL STUDIES

The results of the pl..,eceding observat1ons 2.re summarized as follows:

1. Jacksonville has wea~ner conditions throughout the year that are conducive to accumulation of pollutants emitted to the atmos­phere.

2. If dispersion of pollutants from particular sources is to be studied, a wind and direction recorder located within the spe­cific study area. will be rlecessapy. illS (), (1.J.l i n.=:tr~lrrlent to measure on a continuous basis or at frequent int 2~·~2ls t he l2pse rate in the lowest few hundred fe e t would be es~cnti al. Meteorological data from the USWB st a tio11 at ~hles o~ Airport and from the Naval Air Sta­tion would be inadequate for s~ch deteiled studies.

- ' ., -

ESTIMATED EttiiSSIONS (TONS/DAY) IN J"AGKSONVILLE URBAN AREA-SUMMER

Local so-ur·ces

Power gen·3r2tion

Incin~;f"'.ation

In d ust'f.t~aJ comb-ust-io:p

Indu&trial pracesSGf

Area sc;-ur.c€s

c o@ae rc ial

Domestic

Tra,nsportation

·Total

aNot applicable bNot estimated

rn s:: 0 ,D ~ cO C)

0 f-.!

·-o :>,

'T' -4.0

1.1

()

·r-4 ~ s::

.('j U.l cO ~~ Q) {/) -~ O!.D rtj(l) 0 b() ~s:: V'l riJ b .co H <V illH Q}.!-) (.l [!) '"d ~) 'd (].) ..r::ro ·d ·rl rl~ .p C.!J ~~ z ~ 0 0

f:l·---1-. . .... 13. j5Pr.

l1.s 1.4 I .10

~--4 Qj o F-t 'U (!)

:::1 •ri 'd ir.l..C c >c:" S:::..-i a.i 0.. 0 0 0 ~ ru r ·{ .OS:: ..00

-H.· ::>- HO H·rl X rh 1:0?-:: roo o · 0 0

I 11-30. r . 0:21 57·00.

• .35 . 7o0 7. o·o. . "! l

13. 5 136. j 20. . . 026' 18200. l S6. I r .,

21 ..

124.

~ 26.

.28

j . 2 511. o 1 . 06

I J

I I .J.O j .4 81 .67

.. o6l .26 -1 .. 45

J i· ?1 a I '- ...., .

I 1 I

t r 2 .o b

, I I I

I 39. 146. ..L .61 13. L= a.

- J350.

I

I a. t

l 190.

J. o- .I

11300. j

115.38· 54·.61 52.75 92.88 243.04 357.047 16093.

rn ·m +>

il> ro ~ Cl) s::!'U r-t (1)'0 (L) . ..-i ;:$ bD·ri b()~ ()

04-1 00 or-f r-i ~-i r-t ~ ;:j +> ru 'd:::S '0 r-1 ~ ~ ~CI} ~P=.l Ctl 0

;I:: ::q P-1 E-t

1.9 • .06 J 10. 5919.8il

3.9 716.25 !

1.0 1·4 •. 8381.526

2.0 .12 50.43 .

. 06 . .10 219.41

a .i3 4.47

a 1.6 ,· 17lJl. 61 - .

4 .• 9 6 • o 6 2 9 . 8.5 lY-0 4 3 • 5 2l

:

....

ESTIMATED Er,1ISSIONS (TONS/DAY) IN JACKSONVILLE URBAN AREA-WINTER

Local sources

Power generation

Incineration

:-cndustrial combustion

Indust::.:'ial processes

Area source s

Commercial

Domestic

Transportation

Total

aNot applicable bNot estimated

I

m ~ 0 .0 H Cd C)

0 H "d ~

::r::

4.0

1.1

I 21.

I - I 24.

~

m Cl) UJ '00 ~c .co ().~

'"d (t)

rl~ <

C)

•rl s:: ro tD H 0

t:f.l ~ Q) Q) (I)

,C rn -!-) ~-

0

!+.-!S:: G-! Q) O<l> 0~ ~ W S::ill

M ~ ~ "d ID'"d t:f.l 0 {/) ..c c :><: >::! or-! till •rl ru~ ID~ oo o~ o~ ~.p ~M ~~ .00 Hrl ~~ ~~ HO ~~ ~::S !><! z ~ U} (lj ~ <d ~ ~ (/) 0 0 0 0 ~

fl)

Q) +-"~

Q) ('j S::'d r-1 <l>·rl ~ bO ~~ <:..)

0 0 ·rl r-. ::S ..j...) 'Ur-i H ~~ Cd

::r:: Pol

.-1 ro .p 0 8

2.9

-----t-----T~----~--

113. I 58. 1130. I 0."21 I 5700. !l.9 10. 5919.821

1.8 1.4 0.70 0. 35 i 7. 0 700. 10.15 3.9 716.4

I 3. s I 36.

0.25 I 1.0

' 82oo. l1.o I i14. 18381.526-

1 a 12.0 lo.o6 I 0.12 I 50.49

86. 0.026 20.

a • ) 6 2 3.

I I I I I ' l-1 25. 0.15 0.73 l.O I_ 28. b ~90. ,~.10 0.15 345.13

I 9.0 6.5 19. 94. .140. b 15,uoo, 1'"·5 0.01 18. , 5289.01

J 3 9 • i 0 • 4 61 0 • 61 1 13 • I l. 4 13 5o . 13 o o . a l. 6 ~ 17 o 6 . o 7

123.1 15.56 71.74 186.76 408.75 357.047 31~190. 7.65 .07 47.77 32408.447 "

11 Labor Force Projec·tions by State, 1970 and 1980, 11

by Denis F. Johnston and George R. Methee. Monthly Labor Review, October, 1966. (Reprint . )

11 Labo r Force Projections for 1970-80, 11 by Sophia Cooper and Denis F . Johnston . Monthly Labor Review, February, 1965 . (Reprint . )

Occupational Outlook. Career Information for Use in Guidance, 1966- 67 Edition. Bulletin No. 1450. Washington: u. s. Government Printing Office, 1965.

Projections 1970: Inter-industry Relationships, Potential Demand, Employment. · Bulletin No. 1536. Washington : u. s. Government Printing Office, 1966.

Technological Trends in Major American Industries. Bulletin No . 1474 . Washington : u. s. Government Printing Office, February 1 1966.

University of Flo r ida, Bureau of Economic & Business Research. Business & Economic Dimensions . Gainesville, Florida: The University . Published monthly.

Projections of the Population of Florida Counties for July l, 1970 and July 1, 1975 1 by Ronald E. Beller. Population Series No. 16, May, 1967.

Provisional Estimates of the Population of Florida Counties for July 1, 1965, by Ronald E. Beller. Population Series No . 15, December, 1966 .

Statistics of Personal Incom~Q.Pulation. Taxation and Construction for Florida and for Florida Counties. State Economic Studies No . 16. Gainesville , Florida: The University, May, 1964.