Calculating Emissions Using

AP-42 Emission Factors

Marti Blad, PhD
 What We Will Learn

 How AP-42 can be a useful

planning tool
 How to find & use AP-42 emission
factors

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 What is AP-42?
 Reference document used for estimating
emissions from sources
 Point source processes & equipment
 Area source groupings and activities
 A way for EPA to document emission
factors
 AP-42 does NOT contain recommended
emission limits or standards
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 Emission Factors
 Representative values
 Attempts to relate quantity of pollutant released
with activity or event responsible for release of that
pollutant
 Facilitate estimations of emissions
 Averages compiled from EPA studies
 Assume half of sources have emissions above
estimate (and half below)
 Influenced by many other conditions
 Actual material used
 Control equipment use and efficiency
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 Emission Factors (AP-42)
 General Expression
E = A x EF X (1-ER/100)

 E = emissions (mass of pollutant emitted)

 A = activity or activity rate
 EF = emission factor
 ER = overall emission reduction efficiency (%)
 Emission reduction (ER) efficiency not as important in
simpler calculations; won’t be used in this exercise

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 Emission Factors (AP-42)
 General use (PM & rock crushing example)

PM Emitted = EF x tons of rock crushed

 Another way to look at it

Pollutant mass emitted (e.g., pounds of PM)
Activity-related mass, volume, distance or duration
(e.g., ton of rock crushed)

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Using Emissions Factor Example:
Rock Crushing Facility
 What do we want to find?
 Daily emission of PM10
 Uncontrolled crushing & screening of fines
 What is the process-related “activity”?
 Check AP-42: it can be used to help plan!
 Daily amount of material crushed & screened =
4000 tons rock per day

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 Using Emissions Factor Example:
Rock Crushing Facility
 Step 1: Look up Emission Factor in AP-42
 Find the right crushed stone “process”
 Fines crushing
 Fines screening
 Know the right “pollutant”
 PM10
 Select the right “emission factor” (pay attention to
UNITS)
 Fines crushing:
0.015 lbs PM10 / ton material “crushed”
 Fines screening:
0.072 lbs PM10 / ton material “screened”
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Using Emissions Factor Example:
Rock Crushing Facility
Step 2: Calculate the PM10 emissions

Fines crushing:
0.015 lbs PM10 x 4000 tons material = 60 lbs PM10/day
ton material day

Fines screening:
0.072 lbs PM10 x 4000 tons material = 288 lbs PM10/day
ton material day

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 Summary
Finding the right emission factor
1. Identify correct processes
2. Know pollutant of concern
3. Pay attention to table headers/footers
 Information on appropriate units
 Other information on processes or conditions that may
affect calculations

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