Working with the University of Cincinnati and a community group in Carroll County, our research team placed twenty-five passive air samplers on twenty-three properties in February in Carroll County during the first phase of our study. After three weeks, all samples were returned to Oregon State University by trained landowners to be analyzed and provide environmental passive sampling results.

The passive air sampling material used can collect thousands of different chemicals, including semi-volatile organic compounds which can impact human health. This includes PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) which may be related to drilling activities. We have analyzed the samples for PAHs. Our analytical methods can measure 62 different PAHs at extremely low concentrations.

The  table below shows the 62 PAHs that were analyzed. Thirty-two of these PAHs were detected at measurable concentrations in Carroll County, and are shown with an asterisk. Find more information about PAHs on our Superfund Research Program website.

Phenanthrene* Indeno [1,2,3-c,d] pyrene* 6-Methylchrysene
Fluorene* 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene* 5-Methylchrysene
Pyrene* Benzo [j] fluoranthene* 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
Fluoranthene* Retene* Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene
Napthalene* Triphenylene* Benzo[a]chrysene
1,6-dimethylnaphthalene* Acenaphthylene* Anthanthrene
Acenaphthene* 1-Methylphenanthrene* Naphtho[1,2-b]fluoranthene
2-Methylphenanthrene* Benzo[a]anthracene* Naphtho[2,3-j]fluoranthene
2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene* Cyclopenta[cd]pyrene* Dibenzo[a,e]flouranthene
2-Methylnaphthalene* Benzo[e]pyrene* Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene
1-Methylnaphthalene* Benzo[b]fluorene* Naphtho[2,3-k]fluoranthrene
Dibenzothiophene* 1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene Naphtho[2,3-e]pyrene
2-Methylanthracene* 1,8-Dimethylnaphthalene Dibenzo[a,e]pyrene
Chrysene* 2,6-Diethylnaphthalene Coronene
Anthracene* 9-Methylanthracene Dibenzo[e,l]pyrene
Benzo[b]fluoranthene* 3,6-Dimethylphenanthrene Naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene
Benzo[a]pyrene* 2,3-Dimethylanthracene Benzo[b]perylene
Benzo[g,h,i]perylene* 9,10-Dimethylanthracene Dibenzo[a,i]pyrene
1,5-dimethylnaphthalene* Benzo [a] fluorene Dibenzo[a,h]pyrene
2-Ethylnaphthalene* Benzo [c] fluorene Benz[j] + [e]aceanthrylene
Benzo[k]fluoranthene* 1-Methylpyrene