Industrial Fugitive Emissions Air Quality Assessment

Our team conducted an air‑quality assessment focused on trace hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions originating from phosphogypsum storage areas, as well as several stack sources, at a large industrial fertilizer operation preparing for facility shutdown and land reclamation.

Because the magnitude of fugitive HF emissions from the gypsum storage area was unknown, our team quantified these emissions by modelling the storage area as an area source and applying inverse‑dispersion modelling techniques. Emissions were back‑calculated using downwind, path‑averaged ambient HF measurements collected near the site.

Once the fugitive emission rate was established, we completed a comprehensive air‑quality impact assessment spanning a 30 × 30 km study area to evaluate ground‑level HF concentrations and potential environmental and community impacts.