Title: “Dispersion Modeling Analyses of Air Emissions from Accidental Release of Hazardous Chemicals in Southern Louisiana”
Abstract
The MRCC (Mississippi River Chemical Corridor) is a complex region where industrial, residential, commercial, and recreational areas intersect,
along with transportation networks and river-based industries. However, its industrial density contributes to significant air quality issues, putting
nearby communities at serious health risks. To better understand the environmental and health risks in this region, five detailed case studies of
unintended or accidental release of hazardous chemicals in the MRCC were conducted using AERMOD. This model allowed to simulate the
movement of various toxic chemicals released during industrial incidents, including SO2, VOCs, vinyl chloride, ethylene oxide, ethylene, and
propylene. The focus was on emissions originating from chemical facilities near areas that contain significant EJ communities identified by the
EPA’s toxic air release indicators. The findings confirmed that toxic chemical concentrations were significantly higher in EJ communities close to
industrial facilities, reinforcing concerns about the disproportionate health risks faced by vulnerable populations in the MRCC.
About the Speaker
Kuruvilla John is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of North Texas (UNT), Denton, Texas. Kuruvilla received his B. Tech degree in chemical engineering in 1986 from Anna University in India. He then worked briefly for Asian Paints in Madras before moving to the United States for higher education. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa in 1989 and 1996, respectively. Prof. John’s research interests are in the area of environmental sustainability with a focus on air quality monitoring, modelling and assessment. He has an active research portfolio and was instrumental in securing 43 research contracts, grants and projects worth over $15 million from various industries and funding agencies including National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality among others. He has served as principal investigator and project director of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded centre for research excellence in science and technology. As a mentor, Prof. John has supervised 57 M.S. students, 4 Ph.D., and 13 post-doctoral researchers and scientists since 1995. Many of his former students and research scientists are currently pursuing successful careers globally in the environmental arena. With his students, Prof. John has authored over 85 peer-reviewed journal papers, reports, book chapters and conference papers.
