Authors:

Grayson Wittbrod

Date Created:

Not specified

Course Title:

Professor:

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About Paper:

The growing complexity and economic relevance of commercial manufacturing necessitates increasingly precise and accurate analysis of contaminants to facilitate effective regulation. Human and environmental health is jeopardized by insufficient understanding of the components of such activity. A recent disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, has underscored the importance of proper contamination assessment; on February 3rd, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailment led to the controlled burning of over 100,000 gallons of a known carcinogen, vinyl chloride, as well as leaking of various other hazardous compounds into creeks, soil, air, and homes. To gauge the extent of contamination and potential for health-related concerns, state-of-the-art proton transfer time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS) has been utilized to analyze water samples in real time with a sensitivity to volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations under 10 parts per trillion. Ionizing VOCs allowed for high resolution measurement of mass (over a thousandth of an AMU) and identification of compounds based on a mass to charge ratio spectrum. Quantifying the released compounds will allow for well- informed health advising, more effective cleanup methods, and a more steadfast metric to assess accountability from Norfolk Southern. The results should serve to aid in disaster relief efforts in East Palestine as well as improving standard practices pertaining to sustainable, safe practices in industrial manufacturing, human and environmental health monitoring, transportation, and disaster remediation.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Grayson Wittbrod