1. Project Background and Purpose The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Air Pollution Control Division’s (APCD) Air Toxics and Ozone Precursor Section (ATOPS) is charged with ambient air monitoring for potentially harmful air toxic pollutants across the state of Colorado. The emissions of air toxics are a public health concern as they are known to cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects. Some examples of air toxics of concern in Colorado with long and short-term health effects include: a. Benzene: Exposure to benzene over long periods of time can cause cancer. Short-term exposures to higher benzene levels can cause headaches, dizziness, breathing issues, irritated skin, and irritated eyes. b. Toluene: Exposure to toluene over long periods of time can cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, sore throat, dizziness, headache, and developmental effects. Short-term exposures to higher toluene levels can cause CNS dysfunction and narcosis. c. Ethylbenzene: Short-term exposures to ethylbenzene can cause respiratory effects and neurological effects. d. Xylenes: Short-term exposures to mixed xylenes can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, gastrointestinal effects, eye irritation, and neurological effects. Exposure to xylenes over long periods of time can cause central nervous system effects. This project will allow for the measurement of air toxic compounds in communities to ensure public health protection. The real-time air monitoring data will be used to better understand the cumulative health impacts of air toxics emissions from various stages of oil and gas production.
