Modeling arsenic concentrations in soil due to the historical (1967 to 1993) emissions from a smelter plant in El Paso, Texas

Roberto Velarde, University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract

This thesis entails the study of historical arsenic emissions from ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company) in El Paso, Texas. Many previous studies have been done regarding soil contamination in El Paso. However, with the arrival of new dispersion software (e.g., AERMOD), new doors have been opened in the field of contaminant dispersion. Interpolations regarding future deposition as well as extrapolations regarding historical deposition can now be made. In the late 1980's, TACB (Texas Air Control Board) conducted soil sampling in El Paso County. According to AERMOD's output data, the highest discrete receptor deposition values were found on the UTEP campus (soccer and practice fields) and Mesita Elementary School grounds. Mesita Elementary School is about 1.9-kilometers from ASARCO. The Soccer Field Center and the Intramural Practice Field are about 1.3-kilometers and 1.7-kilometers away from ASARCO, respectively. It should be noted that deposition values produced by AERMOD do not reflect deposition quantities from other sources (i.e., industrial sources, vehicles, fertilizers, etc.) nor do they reflect deposition for other time periods outside of the 1967 to 1993 interval. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Subject Area

Environmental engineering|Environmental science

Recommended Citation

Velarde, Roberto, "Modeling arsenic concentrations in soil due to the historical (1967 to 1993) emissions from a smelter plant in El Paso, Texas" (2004). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAIEP10809.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAIEP10809

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