Arsenic Speciation in Atmospheric Aerosols at the Geysers

Geothermal energy production In C&Hfomla has been Identified as a major source of arsenic by the California Air Resources Board. New regulations have been Implemented by the State of California, which require Information on ambient levels and emissions of inorganic arsenic. However ,these laws consider only total arsenic and do not lake Into account the potential diHerences In toxicily and perhaps even carc:tnogenicly of the diflerent arsenic species present in the Mlbient atmosphere .In response to that need, atmospheric particulate m1111er samples were collected at The Geysers geothermal development area in Lake County California over a two month period In 1989. This paper describes those results and provides, for the llrsl time, Insight Into the atmospheric loadings of the Inorganic species of arsenic, As(lll) and As(V), at geothermal power facilities.