Ambient Air Analysis Research Articles

Anesthetic gas exposure in veterinary clinics.

Concerns were raised by several workers from veterinary clinics in Manitoba, Canada, regarding potential exposure to isoflurane and halothane during anesthetic administration. There has been no guideline established for isoflurane by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH) or a Permissible Exposure Limit by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or a recommended exposure limit (REL) by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The ACGIH TLV-TWA for halothane is 50 ppm and NIOSH has established 2 ppm as a recommended level based on an one-hour sampling. OSHA has established no guideline for halothane. The Miran IB Portable Ambient Air Analyzer was used to conduct real-time sampling and to identify leaks during administration. All veterinary clinics inspected had installed the passive waste gas scavenging system. Ten clinics were each monitored during anesthetic gas delivery for one surgical procedure performed. Induction was 4 to 5 percent and maintenance 1.5 to 2.5 percent. Nine clinics were small animal practices and the tenth was an equine clinic. Veterinarians' personal exposures were higher than the assistants'. Veterinarians' personal exposures for isoflurane ranged from 1.3 to 13 ppm (AM = 5.3; SD +/- 2.7; GM = 4.6; GSD +/- 1.6) and for their assistants, personal exposures ranged from 1.2 to 9 ppm (AM = 4.7; SD +/- 2.5; GM = 3.9; GSD +/- 1.6). Veterinarians' personal exposures for halothane ranged from 0.7 to 12 ppm (AM = 4.2; SD +/- 3.6; GM = 2.9; GSD +/- 1.4) and for their assistants, personal exposures ranged from 0.4 to 3.2 ppm (AM = 1.8; SD +/- 1.0; GM = 1.5; GSD +/- 1.7). One clinic had significant leaks in the anesthetic gas delivery lines. Personal halothane exposure for the veterinarian at this clinic was 7.2 to 65 ppm (AM = 18.0; SD +/- 11.5; GM = 15.9; GSD +/- 1.8). Based on this study, worker exposures were acceptable. Peak exposures were recorded when the cuffed endotracheal tube was removed from the animal. Equipment leaks were minimal when the system was maintained at its optimum operating condition.

Canadian [formula omitted] Science Assessment: science and policy linkages

The Canadian multistakeholder NO x VOC science program was initiated in 1992 explicitly to respond to the needs of the policy community for defensible, high-quality scientific guidance upon which to design and implement emissions reduction strategies to manage the ground-level ozone problem in Canada. The primary product of the science program to date is the eight volume Canadian NO x VOC Science Assessment, the first comprehensive review of the science of ground-level ozone completed for Canada. The science reports in the assessment series cover ambient air monitoring and analysis of the data collected from the monitoring networks; health and vegetation effects of ozone; mathematical modelling for emission control scenarios in the three regions most impacted by ground-level ozone in Canada; and, emissions inventories for ozone precursors. In addition to the science reports, the Summary for Policy Makers synthesizes the key scientific findings and presents a set of recommendations to the policy community, recognizing there are limitations to their use in policy decision-making. This paper describes the management process used to deliver the assessment, the key findings of the science and how the science-based recommendations are being used for ground-level ozone policy development.

Trace Analysis of NO2 in the Presence of NO by Laser Photofragmentation/Fragment Photoionization Spectrometry at Visible Wavelengths

Trace concentrations of NO and NO2 molecules are differentiated spectrally by using a visible dye laser and a simple flow cell with a pair of miniature electrodes for ion detection. NO is detected near 452 nm by (2+2) resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization via its A2∑+-X2II (0,0) transitions, while NO2 is detected by laser photofragmentation with subsequent fragment NO ionization via the A2∑+-X2II (0,0) and (1,1) transitions. Spectral differentiation is possible since the internal energy of the NO photofragment differs from that of “ambient” NO. Measurement of vibrationally excited NO via its A2∑+-X2II (0,3) band is also demonstrated at 517 nm. Rotationally resolved spectra of NO and fragment NO are analyzed by using a multiparameter computer program based on two-photon energy level expressions and line strengths for A2∑+-X2II transitions. Boltzmann analysis of the P12 + O22 branch of the (0,0) band reveals that the rotational temperature of fragment NO is approximately 500 K compared to room-temperature NO. Limits of detection [signal-to-noise (S/N) = 3] of NO and NO2 are in the 20–40-ppbv range at 449.2, 450.7, and 452.6 nm for a 10-s integration time. The limit of detection of NO2 at 517.5 nm is 75 ppbv. The analytical utility of the technique for ambient air analysis is evaluated and discussed.

Mobile Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy monitoring of air pollution

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is an efficient technique for the detection and quantification of molecules in gas mixtures. Measurement results from a mobile laboratory for ambient air analysis and for remote sensing of plume emission with the commercially available K300 spectrometer are reported. CO, CO(2), NO, NO(2), N(2)O, NH(3), CH(4), SO(2), H(2)O, HCl, and HCHO concentrations have been determined with good agreement with in situ results. The on-line multicomponent analysis software is based on line-by-line retrieval and least-squares fitting procedures, including the effects of multiple aerosol scattering and cloud and rain influences.

Sampling and analysis of airborne pollutants

Sampling Methods and Approach: Standard Technical Approaches for the Analysis of Ambient Air Samples (D.E. Wagoner, J. Rice, and J.T. Bursey). Use of a Microchip Gas Chromatography for Ambient Air Analysis (K.R. Carney, R.C. Wong, E.B. Overton, M.A. Jackisch, and C.F. Steele). Theory and Application of the U.S. EPA Recommended Surface Emission Isolation Flux Chamber for Measuring Emission Rates of Volatile and Semivolatile Species (C.E. Schmidt). A Combustion Wind Tunnel for Direct Determination of Emission Factors from Open Burning of Agricultural Wastes (B.M. Jenkins, S.Q. Turn, R.B. Williams, D.P.Y. Chang, O.G. Raabe, J. Paskind, and M. Ahuja). Comparison of a Charcoal Tube and a Passive Sampling Device for Determination of Low Concentrations of Styrene in Air (Y.Z. Tang, P. Fellin, and R. Otson). Dynamic Gas Chromatographic Techniques for the Characterization of Carbon-Based Adsorbents Utilized in Air Sampling (W.R. Betz, K.S. Ho, S.A. Hazard, and S.J. Lambiase). Volatile Organic Compound Analysis: Detector Selection for the Analysis of Volatile Organic Air Toxic Compounds Using U.S. EPA Compendium Method TO14 (L.D. Ogle, D.A. Brymer, and R.L. Carlson). The Chemiluminescent Detection of Volatile Sulfur Compounds (R. Dominguez, Jr. and M.W. Wadley). Measurement of Oxygenated Hydrocarbons and Reduced Sulfur Gases by Full Scan Gas Chromatrometry/Mass Spectrometry (S.D. Hoyt, V. Longacre, and M. Stroupe). Sampling of Atmospheric Carbonyl Compounds for Determination by Liquid Chromatography after 2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazine Labeling (A. Vairavamurthy, J.M. Roberts, and L. Newman). Aerosol Sampling and Analysis Developments: Methods of Analysis for Complex Organic Aerosol Mixtures from Urban Emission Sources of Particulate Carbon (M.A. Mazurek, L.M. Hildemann, G.R. Cass, B.R.T. Simoneit, and W.F. Rogge). Vapor Adsorption Artifact in the Sampling of Organic Aerosol (S.R. McDow and J.J. Huntzicker). A Sampling System for Reactive Species in the Western United States (J.C. Chow, J.G. Watson, J.L. Bowen, C.A. Frazier, A.W. Gertler, K.K. Fung, D. Landis, and L. Ashbaugh). Ice Cores as a Unique Means of Retrieving Records of Chemical Compounds in the Atmosphere: Evidence of an Undocumented Tropical Volcanic Eruption in the Early 19th Century (J. Dai, E. Mosley-Thompson, and L.G. Thompson). Optical Remote Sensing: Remote Sensing of VOCs: A Methodology for Evaluating Air Quality Impacts During Remediation of Hazardous Waste Sites (T.R. Minnich, R.L. Scotto, M.R. Leo, and P.J. Solinski). The Neutral Gas Laser: A Tool for Remote Sensing of Chemical Species by Infrared Absorption (P.L. Kebabian and C.E. Kolb). Data Interpretation Techniques: Data Treatment Procedures in Ambient Air Monitoring (R.A. McAllister). Assessing the Visibility Impairment Associated with Various Sulfate Reduction Scenarios at Shenandoah National Park (J.F. Sisler and W.C. Malm). Evaluating Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (S.K. Hammond). Bioavailability of Benzene Through Inhalation and Skin Absorption (R.C. Wester, H.I. Maibach, L. Gruenke, and J. Craig).

Sorbent-Based Method for the Analysis of Ambient Air Using Supercritical Fluid Desorption/Gas Chromatography

Abstract The work described in this paper shows how we have investigated the utility of polar polyimide sorbents for the collection of polar and non-polar volatile organic compounds in ambient air. The results indicate that supercritical carbon dioxide can be used to recover a variety of compounds with a wide range of volatilities from polyimide sorbents and that these compounds can be effectively collected onto an adsorbent micro-trap after the expansion of the fluid prior to thermal desorption gas chromatographic analysis. Molecular sieve 3A was used and found to have a very high capacity for removal of water from the supercritical fluid extract stream. The sieve tended to adsorb polar compounds in the absence of water; the presence of water sometimes reduced analyte adsorption. The method was used to collect, recover, and analyze volatile organic compounds from the air of a laboratory building and was shown to be quite sensitive for appropriate compounds.

A comparison of calibration and measurement techniques for gas chromatographic determination of atmospheric peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)

A 24 day intercomparison study of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) measurement was conducted in Egbert, Ontario, in February–March 1989. Two GC/ECD systems and one GC using a luminolchemiluminescence based detection device were involved. To separate the influence of calibration errors vs possible chromatographic interferences, a series of laboratory standards (gaseous PAN concentrations determined by either i.r. or by chemiluminescence) were exchanged. For all three GCs the results of analysis of standard samples were within ±25% of the standard concentration. For ambient air PAN measurements (concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 2 ppb), plots of each set of measurement data regressed against those of the other two techniques were obtained. Linear regression of the data from ambient air analysis for the two GC/ECD systems yielded a slope and intercept of 1.14±0.01 and −0.03±0.05, respectively (r = 0.995). The plot of the Luminol-based GC against the AES GC/ECD yielded a slope of 1.08±0.03 and an intercept of 0.08±0.24 (r = 0.864). The results demonstrated the reliability of the chemiluminescence calibration technique, and indicated that the luminol-based PAN measurement device can yield accurate and sensitive measurements of ambient PAN concentrations.

Wood smoke impacted air: mutagenicity and chemical analysis of ambient air in a residential area of Juneau, Alaska.

An ambient air sampling program was conducted in a wood smoke impacted residential area of Juneau, Alaska during the winter of 1985-86. This study was undertaken to determine the bacterial mutagenicity (Ames test) and chemical characteristics of respirable particulate matter collected in this area. Fine particle (0-2.5 {mu}m) concentrations for the sampling period of November 16th to January 7th ranged from 1.19 to 209.8 {mu}g/m{sup 3}. Bioassay samples from ambient air fine particle concentration periods of 25.6 to 209.8 {mu}g/m{sup 3} showed indirect acting mutagenicity of 6.64 to 77.8 rev/m{sup 3} with a mutagenicity/particle concentration correlation coefficient of 0.89. The indirect acting mutagenic potency values ranged from 0.29 to 1.44 rev/{mu}g of extracted organics and averaged 0.73 {plus minus} 0.26. Correlations between fine particle concentration, indirect acting mutagenicity and PAH concentrations were observed for most periods throughout the study. A comparison of ambient air samples collected from wood smoke impacted residential areas in Raleigh, NC; Albuquerque, NM; and Juneau, AK showed that the relationship between ambient air mutagenicity and fine particle concentration was similar for each location.

Sampling and analysis of ambient air near Los Angeles using an annular denuder system

The annular denuder system (ADS) was used to measure HNO 3, HNO 2, NH 3, SO 2, and fine particle NO 3 −, SO 4 2− and NH 4 + during the 1985 Nitrogen Species Methods Comparison Study. This study was conducted from 11 to 19 September 1985 on the Pomona College Campus at Claremont, California near Los Angeles. This paper describes the performance of the ADS and presents selected results obtained using the system during the study. Most of the variability of the ADS results is associated with sampling rather than analytical operations. Based on collocated operation, the precision depends on the species sampled. Precision estimates (median CV's) for SO 2 HNO 3 and SO 4 2−, as determined from 4- and 6-h collocated sampling are 8.0,14.3 and 4.1 %. Weighted averages of 4- and 6-h concentrations agree well with the corresponding 10- and 12-h averages for most species. An apparent low bias in the HNO 3 results may be associated with interactions between the gas sample and the large Teflon® surface area upstream of the annular denuder.

Ambient air audits of the National crop loss assessment network (1981–1986)

Since 1981 the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory (EMSL) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina has been conducting performance audits of the ambient air analyzers used in the National Crop Loss Assessment Network (NCLAN). These audits provided the NCLAN researchers the means to assess the quality of the data gathered by their respective air-monitoring projects. The paper summarizes and reviews the results for all the audits from July 1981 through August 1986. Approximately 288 analyzers were audited and only 9 were found to be outside the NCLAN's acceptable goal of + or - 15%. Approximately 185 ozone, 81 sulfur dioxide, 18 oxides of nitrogen, and 4 carbon dioxide monitors were audited.

Automatic monitoring and control of hazardous hydride gases

The use of hazardous hydride gases in modern research and production has generated a need for quick analysis of ambient air for threshold limit value (TLV) levels of hydride gases. In general, the systems available today that satisfy this need fall into two categories. These are systems that are very fast to react but do not identify the hydride and systems that do identify the hydride but take several minutes to complete the analysis. These two different approaches to the problem are examined here; each has its own strengths in different applications. The first system is made by MDA Scientific and has been applied to a research environment. Lessons have been learned regarding the importance of system features and placement strategies. The second system is composed of a standard laboratory gas chromatograph utilizing a photo-ionization detector and a convenient sampling system.

Ambient Air Analysis for Evaluation of the Exposure Level

Ambient Air Analysis for Evaluation of the Exposure Level

The Measurement of Gas Flow Part I

Often in the performance of their duties, the air pollution control engineers and analysts must accurately monitor known amounts of gas into such devices as ambient air analyzers. These people are finding that even normal fluctuations in ambient temperature and pressure can cause significant deviations in the final results unless they systematically and laboriously reduce all their volumetric flow data to a standard base. Many people are using flowmeters daily as measuring devices to assist them in their air pollution quality assurance duties. It is imperative that they understand what factors influence the reliability of the flow readings they obtain and how to correct their data for these factors. Others are responsible for maintaining the calibration of working ambient analyzers. They must not only understand the operation of the analyzer, but they must also have a working knowledge of the primary and transfer flow standards used to calibrate them. The following survey covers those types of flowmeters most likely encountered when performing quality assurance duties and ambient analyzer calibrations. Each flowmeter will be briefly described by pointing out those factors that are important in obtaining accurate data. A comprehensive list of references is also provided for additional reference.

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Reply to comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Reply to comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Comments

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTEvaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. CommentsRoger B. SperlingCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1979, 13, 5, 609–610Publication Date (Print):May 1, 1979Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 May 1979https://doi.org/10.1021/es60153a005RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views19Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (298 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis. Comments

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis

Evaluation of bag sequential sampling technique for ambient air analysis

Evaluation of occupational styrene exposure by ambient air and urine analysis.

Key terms ambient air; evaluation; occupational styrene exposure; styrene; styrene exposure; urine analysis

Ambient air analysis with dichotomous sampler and x-ray fluorescence spectrometer

Ambient air analysis with dichotomous sampler and x-ray fluorescence spectrometer