Camera Detects Fugitive Toxic Emissions
The use of an infrared camera is making fugitive emissions of benzene and other toxic chemicals from refineries and plants easier to detect.
Monitoring toxic emissions is the first step in reducing the amount of toxins released from refineries and other facilities. Fugitive emissions are emissions that are released from facilities without being detected or reported. The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, or TCEQ, is using an infrared camera that can view volatile organic compounds through a heat-sensing lens, to find fugitive emissions.
Rebecca Rentz, TCEQ’s air quality director for the Houston area, says that the commission is targeting benzene emissions as one of the hazardous toxins. Crews take the camera on reconnaissance outside the fence line of refineries to track down these toxic emissions that would otherwise go undetected. Rentz says the infrared camera is more helpful than reports from the refineries in locating sources of emissions and violations.
Investigations, so far, reveal that smaller operations are emitting more than expected, and that barges emit large amounts of toxins as they travel through the Houston Ship Channel.
Another significant source of benzene emissions discovered with the infrared camera are tank terminals that sell storage for gas or diesel. The TCEQ is currently working with these companies to reduce emissions.