A Comparison of Ambient Air Pollutants at John F. Kennedy Space Center with Data from the Florida Statewide Monitoring Network

摘要

Monitoring of Environmental Protection Agency criteria air pollutants at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on north Merritt Island, Florida has been conducted since January 1983 as part of the Long-term Environmental Monitoring Program for the NASA Biomedical Operations and Research Office. Data were collected to evaluate trends in air pollutant concentrations and potential impacts of KSC operations on air quality. Continuous analyzers were operated for ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and the following meteorological parameters: wind direction and speed, temperature, and relative humidity. A Sierra-Anderson inhalable particulate monitor (PM(sub 10)) was operated for a 24-hour period every six days. Instrumentation was calibrated in accordance with the Quality Assurance Plan of the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Independent audits were also performed two or three times per year. Data from 1983 through 1986 showed a decrease in the 24-hour SO2 averages each year. In addition, the highest 24-hour SO2 average level each year was higher than those in all other locations on the east coast of Florida except in Duval and Nassau counties. However, the second highest 24-hour average SO2 levels were lower than the statewide nine-station averages reported for each year except 1983. The NO2 annual averages at KSC were much lower than the statewide nine-station averages that ranged between 24.5 to 28.7 ug/m(exp 3). There was a slight increase each year at KSC from 3.3 ug/m(exp 3) in 1983 to 4.6 ug/m(exp 3) by 1986. The CO annual averages, second highest eight-hour, and one-hour averages were lower than the statewide averages for micro-scale, middle-scale, and neighborhood scale. The pollutant of most concern at KSC is ozone, because it has been shown to be consistently high compared to the federal and state standard of 120 ppb maximum one-hour average and it has increased yearly (98, 101, 103, 109 ppb). These values, as compared to six county averages, are 84.6 percent, 94.0 percent, 92.2 percent, and 98.1 percent, respectively. The percentage of daily maximum one-hour O3 averages greater than 90 ppb at KSC was higher than Duval, Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach counties in 1984 and 1985 and Orange County in 1983 and 1985. In conclusion, the overall air quality at KSC is good, but future regional development may have an impact and monitoring at KSC will be continued.