AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS WITH THE HELP OF THE MOBILE LABORATORY AND PLOTTING DISPERSION MAPS IN CASE OF ACCIDENTAL POLLUTION

Abstract

The mobile environmental laboratory was located in a fuel distribution station located on a heavy traffic national road in Petro?ani City, Hunedoara County (Romania) to investigate dust and gas pollution, as well as dispersion of pollutants to nearby homes, using the AUSTAL VIEW software. Measurements were performed over a period of eight hours in two working days in order to better capture the movement of air masses and the dispersion of measured pollutants. In the event of accidental spills of chemicals or chemical vapors into the environment that may come from gas stations, the ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) computer program was used, a free program developed and used by the USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency United States). The paper, structured on two levels, aims to quickly identify pollutants in the area of interest by simultaneously determining several samples and analysing the dispersion of concentrations, as well as assessing consequences of accidental pollution with flammable / volatile substances from a fuel station, to estimate the spatial extent of such an unwanted event. The simulation of volatile chemicals dispersion was performed for the accidental leakage of fuel into the environment when transferring fuel from tanker to reservoirs. Accidental release of toxic / flammable / explosive substances may have serious consequences for workers or neighbouring population, therefore the need to establish safety zones based on best practices in the field and on a scientific basis is fully justified.