Monitoring ambient

The measurement data for reduced atmospheric nitrogen in the UK are of variable quality, largely because monitoring ambient NHj is subject to very large variations." However, the wet deposition monitoring data provide a good... 

The terms ambient air, ambient air pollution, ambient levels, ambient concentrations, ambient air monitoring, ambient air quality, etc. occur frequently in air pollution parlance. The intent is to distinguish pollution of the air outdoors by transport and diffusion by wind (i.e., ambient air pollution) from contamination of the air indoors by the same substances. 

Forbes, M. and Afghan, B.K. 1987, Analytical Protocol for Monitoring Ambient Water Quality at the Niagra-On-The-Lake and Fort Erie Stations. Canada Centre for Inland Waters Burlington, Ontario, Canada. 

In addition to the specificity of the monitoring method, an important requirement for the measurement of atmospheric pollutants is the accuracy of the calibration technique. The calibration procedure for the measurement of oxidants or ozone utilizes a stable and reproducible sample of dilute ozone in air. The ozone concentration of this sample is established with a reference method that is not necessarily suitable for monitoring ambient air. This reference method must agree with the scientifically accurate measurement of ozone in the calibration sample. 

Excerpt 4E is taken from an article in Chemical Research in Toxicology and involves the toxicity of fine particulate matter, airborne particles with effective diameters <2.5 pm (also known as PM2 5). The fine particulate was collected using a PM2 5 monitor. Ambient air is pulled through the monitor, diverting the larger particles (>2.5 pm) and capturing only the smaller ones onto a filter. Such fine particles arise from a number of sources including industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and forest fires and may lead to asthma, bronchitis, and possibly cancer. 

The permissible ambient concentrations of S02 and H2S are indicated in Table II. To monitor ambient concentrations, Syncrude established an extensive network of monitoring stations (4). 

Schairer, L.A., Sautkulis, R.C. Tempel, N.R. (1982) Monitoring ambient air for mutagenicity using the higher plant Tradescantia. Environ. Sci. Res., 25. 123-140... 

GC coupled with IMS has many advantages and is applied for quality control in the pharmaceutical industry [131, 132] and for detection of trace amount of explosives, warfare agents, and drugs [133-135]. This system is used to monitor ambient air [136] and for direct analysis of exhaled air [137]. 

Apparatus and techniques for the sampling and concentration of particulate and dissolved trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) from seawater were used to monitor ambient trace metal concentrations and heavy metal dis charges. Particulate trace metals were collected in 0.4 fim Nuclepore filter bags, and dissolved metals were concentrated on Chelex-100 chelating resin. The apparatus is constructed of polyethylene and polypropylene plastics to reduce possible sample contamination. 

These laboratory results may help explain field observations. First, Helmig et al. have recently reported rather high emissions of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate from natural vegetation (i.e., 20-25 iigCg (dry weight) h in oak and raspberry), and have monitored ambient levels of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate in an oak canopy. Since it is estimated that a large fraction of all leaves in a forest are wounded by herbivores at any time, it is likely that... 

An example of an automatic analyser for the determination of organic pollutants is the Meloy HC 500-2C from Columbia Scientific Industries. It is a self-contained system for monitoring ambient concentrations of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), methane and total hydrocarbons. Sample air Is first introduced directly into the flame ionization detector to yield a total hydrocarbon reading which Is stored In an electrical circuit. The pneumatic system Is automatically switched so that the sample air passes through a catalytic converter before It Is Introduced Into the detector, which converts ail the NMHC Into a non-detectable species. Hence, only the methane in the sample Is... 

The RAMS is designed to monitor ambient gamma (y) radiation levels. The typical range for RAMS units is O.l mR/h to 10 R/h. Alarm set points are established at levels appropriate to the area being monitored, and to provide an indication of an abnormal condition. RAMS are located in Zone 2 where routine manned operations are conducted. RAMS units are calibrated and tested in compliance with the SNL RPPM Chapter 12. 

World Health Organization. Text edited by David Breuer. Monitoring Ambient Air Quality for Health Impact Assessment. Gopenhagen Author, 1999. Good coverage of efforts outside of the United States. 

The Andersen PM 10/2.5 dichotomous sampler accurately monitors ambient air for coarse and fine particulates (Figure 6.26 Andersen Samplers Inc., 4215 Wendell Drive, Atlanta, GA 30336). The dichotomous (dichot) sampler separates aerosol particles into two distinct size fractions, 2.5 and 10 pm ( coarse particles) and less than 2.5 pm ( fine particles). The virtual... 

Installed and portable equipment for radiation measurement is used to ensure the protection of the personnel in the plant and the public from radiation that is produced during both plant operation and decommissioning. This is achieved by monitoring ambient conditions in the workplace and off the site and by monitoring personnel for contamination at fixed points of access and egress between different zones. 

Fig. 13.12 Service life testing time at accelerated, constant conditions (85 % rel. humidity at 85 °C) corresponding to 25 years operation simulated with 1-year monitored ambient and microclimatic stress data for three different climatic locations...

Many studies utilize biomaterials as pollutant sorbents, such as plant samples, e.g. bark [120-123], lichen or pine needles [117,123-125], to monitor ambient air concentrations assuming that their spatial pollution distribution in the plants and the atmosphere will be closely related. However, the concentration capacity and sampling rate of plant tissues vary with the plant species and age, location and season. Therefore, these kinds of plant data are still subject to several imcertainties, which complicate their interpretation and limit the potential of plants as monitoring tools. For this reason, man-made passive air samplers are preferred up to date, despite their additional costs and that they have to be deployed, since the variability of samplers at different loeations is low, and the sampling period can be controlled. 

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