Sulphur isotope ratios in water, air, soil and vegetation near Teepee Creek gas plant, Alberta [(Canada)]

Krouse, H.R.; Case, J.W. . Physics Dept.

Sulphur isotope ratios in water, air, soil and vegetation near Teepee Creek gas plant, Alberta [(Canada)]

1981

Krouse, H.R. | Case, J.W. (Calgary Univ., Alberta (Canada). Physics Dept.)

Baseline data relevant to assessing environmental impact of continued operation of the Teepee Creek gas plant or similar future industrial operations included S concentrations, pH of soil and water, and S isotope determinations. Concentrations evaluated the S loading while isotope determinations identified sources of environmental S. The industrial source was very enriched in ('34)S(delta('34)S=+24 0/00) while soil and vegetation were characterized by ('34)S depletions (delta('34)S values as low as-20 0/00 mean value near -8 0/00). Thus S isotope determinations provided an excellent tool for environmental assessment in the region. It was found that the following are the more significant observations: (1) Neither the pH data nor S isotope compositions of the water or soil samples reveal measurable S loading by the industrial operation. (2) The measured atmospheric SO('2) concentrations are well below permitted air quality standards. (3) Data from an atmospheric sampling array revealed that the directions of highest SO('2) concentrations did not correspond to the direction of the gas processing plant nor did high concentrations relate isotopically to the emissions. (4) In both soil and vegetation samples, increase of S concentration was identified isotopically with mineral layers in the sub-surface and not with the industrial operation. Thus it is concluded that S in the environment surrounding the Teepee Creek gas plant was dominated by sources other than the plant emissions.

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