Title: Analysis of point source emissions in the Texas-Mexico border region

Authors: Alvaro Martinez, Bela Deshpande

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 213, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 213, Kingsville, Texas 78363, USA

Abstract: Pollutant emissions in the Texas-Mexico border were investigated using an emission database that covers 25 Texas counties and the states of Coahuila, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas in Mexico. Major emissions are from energy generation, mainly from two coal-fired facilities in Coahuila, which also generate most of carbon dioxide. Texas exhibits a larger concentration of sources; around Laredo and the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a sugarcane mill is a significant contributor to particles emissions. In Mexico the minerals and metals industries are the second major contributors to emissions, especially particles. Fossil fuel production is the main source of VOCs.

Keywords: point source emissions; Texas-Mexico border; carbon emissions; carbon dioxide; air pollution; particulate emissions; Mexico; USA; United States; fossil fuel; VOCs; volatile organic compounds.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.027269

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.38 No.4, pp.361 - 370

Published online: 19 Jul 2009 *

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