MEASUREMENT OF AIR POLLUTANTS

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MEASUREMENT OF AIR POLLUTANTS AIR QUALITY DATA
SETS
Chris Eiser Director Atmospheric Science NSW DEC
Short Course in Environmental Epidemiology and
the Atmospheric Environment The University of
Sydney 10 11 November 2003
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Structure of presentation

• Role of air pollutant measurements
• Ambient Indoor air quality
• Air quality standard frameworks
• Key pollutants, sources and trends
• Measurement networks techniques
• Data Sources and Quality

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Uses of air quality measurement data

• Characterise and report on air quality levels
• Identify, prioritise and track trends in
  pollutants
• Assess and track the effectiveness of programs
• Help form the basis of new control programs and
  assess new developments
• Provide information to researchers and the
  community
• Assess health impacts of pollutants
• Assess major source impacts

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The Air Quality Management Cycle the role of
air monitoring
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Data uses in policy

• Statutory reporting (SoE, ANEPM)
• Assessing effectiveness of existing control
  strategies (Action for Air etc.)
• Data to assist with computer simulation modelling
  of growth and future potential control scenarios
• Early advice on air quality trends and emerging
  pollutants
• Regular advice to Community on air quality (RPI,
  24-hour data, Reports)

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Ambient Air Quality
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Ambient Air Quality - Key Pollutants

• Global Issues
• Greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs)
• Ozone Depleting Substances
• Regional Issues
• Photochemical smog (Ozone)
• Brown Haze (Particles)
• Local Issues
• CO, NO2, SO2, Air Toxics, Odours

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National Ambient Air Quality Standards
ANEPM PM2.5 VARIATION (Reporting
Standards) 25µg/m3 (1 day average) 8 µg/m3 (1
year average)
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Ambient Air Quality - Key Sources

• Motor Vehicle exhaust and evaporation of fuel
• Large Industrial processes (eg oil refineries,
  steelworks etc.)
• Small Industrial and Commercial premises (eg
  printers, dry-cleaners, smash repair shops etc.
• Domestic premises (solid fuel heating, cleaning
  products, lawn mowers etc.)
• Biogenic emissions

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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Anthropogenic emission sources - 2002
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Source contributions - air toxics
Greater Metropolitan Region 2000



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Ambient air quality trends
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Ambient air quality trends - Carbon Monoxide (CO)
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Ambient air quality trends - Lead (Pb)
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Ambient air quality trends - Ozone (1 hr)
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Ambient air quality trends - Ozone (1 Hr)
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Ambient air quality trends - Ozone (4 Hr)
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Ambient air quality trends - Ozone (4 Hr)
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Ambient air quality trends - Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2)
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Ambient air quality trends - PM10
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Ambient air quality trends - PM10
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Ambient air quality trends - PM10
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Ambient air quality trends - fine particles
(PM2.5)
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Bushfire Impacts
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Benzene - Annual Average
Draft NEPM investigation level 3 ppbV
(annual avg)
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Toluene - Average and Maximum
Draft NEPM investigation level 2000 ppbV (24 hour
avg)
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Xylene - Average and Maximum
Draft NEPM investigation level 200 ppbV
(24 hour avg)
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1,3-Butadiene Maximum Annual Average
United Kingdom goal (2003) 1
ppbV (annual avg)
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Ambient air monitoring network
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NSW ambient air monitoring network - GMR
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NSW ambient air monitoring networkrural sites
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Wollongong Site
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Monitoring Racks PCs
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CBD Site
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Wagga Wagga Site
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Measurement techniques
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CO Analyser Schematic
Non-dispersive IR Spectrophotometry
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SO2 Analyser Schematic
Pulsed Fluorescence Spectrophotometry
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NOx Analyser Schematic
Chemiluminescence
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Ozone Analyser Schematic
Ultraviolet Spectroscopy
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High-Volume Analyser Schematic
Gravimetric
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High-Volume Analyser
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TEOM PM10 Analyser Schematic
Particles less than 10 microns
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TEOM PM10 Mass Transducer Schematic
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USEPA Method TO14 Schematic
Volatile Organic Compounds
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AVOCS and Canister System
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Open path monitoring techniques

• FTIR - Fourier Transform Infra-Red
• LIDAR - Light Detection and Ranging
• DIAL - Differential Absorption LIDAR
• TDLAS - Tunable Diode Laser Absorption
  Spectroscopy
• DOAS - Differential Optical Absorption
  Spectroscopy

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Open Path vs Single Point
Advantages Disadvantages

• Spectral interferences eg O2 on BTX
• Requires relatively. sophisticated data
  processing
• No absolute zero ref.
• Problems with heavy rain fog

• No contamination
• Simultaneous measurement of multiple components
• Near real-time for BTX
• Low maintenance

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DOAS
LAMP
RECEIVER
OPTICAL PATH 150 1000 m
WHEEL
SPECTROMETER
PMT
COMPUTER
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Installation at receiver end
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Data availability and quality
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Ambient air quality data availability

• Parameters
• Ozone
• Particles (PM10, PM2.5)
• Oxides of Nitrogen
• Carbon monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Lead
• Air toxics (organics)
• Visibility
• Meteorology

• Averaging times
• 1 hour average
• 4-hour rolling avg
• 8-hour rolling avg
• 24-hour average
• Annual average

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Accuracy and precision guidelines
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Calibration procedures
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Air Quality Monitoring Network Data Flow
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY
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Indoor Air Quality - Key Pollutants

• Chemicals CO, CO2, NOx, SO2, Ozone, VOCs,
  formaldehyde, ETS, pesticides, PAHs, metals
• Physical agents particles, asbestos, man made
  fibres, radon, EMF, noise
• Biological and microbiological agents house dust
  mites, dander from pets, fungi, bacteria,
  mycotoxins
• Ventilation, humidity

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Indoor Air Quality - Key Sources

• Emissions from building materials
• Ventilation practices and ventilation rate
• Building practices and cleaning habits
• Emissions from products used indoors
• Smoking
• Open combustion
• Body effluents
• Ambient air quality

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Interim national Indoor air quality Goals
Recommended By the NHMRC
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BTEX exposure standards local exposures
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Personal exposure monitoring - Perth
Figure
Source BTEX Personal Exposure Pilot
Study Perth January 2001
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BTEX personal exposure study sampler
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European indoor/outdoor studies - benzene
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SUMMARY

• Ambient air measurements
• NSW DEC has a substantial investment in regional
  ambient air quality monitoring and a rich data
  set.
• Substantial effort is expended in ensuring
  network meets quality standards and uses
  recognised monitoring protocols.
• Data is made available via the web and through
  data requests.
• Technology is improving and demands for new
  pollutants will challenge our ability to measure
  them accurately

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SUMMARY (Contd)

• Indoor air measurements
• Not a new problem, but community awareness is
  increasing
• No clear framework for standard setting or
  responsibility for taking action on indoor air
  quality
• Data is patchy but indicates several chemicals
  are present in indoor air at higher levels than
  outdoors
• Broader range of chemicals and biological agents
  in indoor air.

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Further Information ambient air quality
Regional Pollution Indices www.epa.nsw.gov.au/air/
airqual/aqupd.asp 24 hour Pollutant
Summary www.epa.nsw.gov.au/airqual/web24hsum.asp Q
uarterly Air Pollution Reports www.epa.nsw.gov.au/
air/datareports.htm
State of the Environment Report www.epa.nsw.gov.au
/soe2000/index.htm or purchase by phoning - 131
555 ANEPM Annual Reports www.ephc.gov.au/nepc/annu
al_report02.html
Air Pollution Measurement Practical
Course www.casanz.org
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Further Information indoor air quality
State of Knowledge Report Air Toxics Indoor
Air Quality in Australia www.ea.gov.au/atmosphere/
airtoxics/sok/index.html Indoor Air Quality in
Australia A Strategy for Action www.casanz.org.au
/pdf/Clean_Air_5.pdf Some selected overseas
websites USEPA www.epa.gov/iaq Europe www.jrc.c
ec.eu.int