Air Quality Monitoring

by:
Joel V. Salcedo
EMB 10

Sources Of Air Pollutants

Natural sources include plant pollens, windblown dust,

volcanic eruptions, and lightning-generated forest fires.

Man-made sources can include transportation vehicles,

industrial processes, power plants, construction
activities, and military training activities.

Effects Of Air Pollutants

Effects on human health include eye irritation,

headaches, and aggravation of respiratory difficulties.

Plants and crops have been subjected to the

undesirable consequences of air pollution, including
abnormal growth patterns, leaf discoloration or spotting,
and death.

Animals such as cattle have been subjected to

undesirable consequences of atmospheric fluorides.

Effects Of Air Pollutants

Property and material damages include property

devaluation because of odors, deterioration of
materials such as concrete statuary, and
discoloration of painted surfaces on cars, buildings,
and bridge structure.

The aesthetic effects include reductions in visibility,

discoloration of air, photochemical smog-related
traffic disruptions at airports, and the general
nuisance aspects of odors and dust.

INTERNET FIGURES
2002

WHO reported 3 million people now die each year

from effects of air pollution

In France, Australia and Switzerland, air pollution is

responsible for more than 40,000 deaths annually
(Lancet, 2000)

In the US, air pollution claims 70,000 lives annually

INTERNET FIGURES
2002

Ontario, Canada
Population -11.9 million
Air pollution cost as least $1 billion annually in
hospital admissions, emergency room visit,
absences from work.
In Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila, social cost
appropriated to 10% of average income in 1990
(World Bank)
China social cost on illnesses and deaths at 5% of
GDP (www.earth.policy.org/update/update17.htm)

AIR QUALITY MONITORING

AIR QUALITY MONITORING is a process composed of
inter-related activities, which include sampling, analysis,
data interpretation and reporting.

Air Sampling
Activities may be generally classified into two types,
namely: ambient air and source sampling. Air
sampling is conducted by the use of either manually
operated instruments or continuous automatic
analyzers with recorders.
Objectives:
To observe long term trends
To check compliance with air quality standards and to
evaluate control strategies

Specialize monitoring objective, which are generally

more optional in nature has the following objectives:

To assess environmental and health risks

To validate dispersion models

To carry out assessment surveys in relation to other

studies, projects and others.

EMB-DENR Objectives

To check compliance with air quality standards set by

the EMB-DENR for the purpose of issuance of permits,
verification of complaints, and assessment of
efficiency of air pollution control facilities.

To assess air quality in relation to the National

Ambient Air Quality Guidelines established by the
EMB-DENR to protect public health and welfare and
reduce damage to property, provide an air quality
management control strategy for emission limitations
from mobile and stationary sources, location of
commercial, industrial and residential facilities, and
assist in the promotion and use of an improved
transportation system.

A.

Ambient Air Monitoring

I Air Sampling Equipment

Particulate/Aerosol Sampling
1. Settlement

Can be achieved by using dust fall jars, plates, glass

slides, dishes or trays
Suitable only for large particles of 20 to 50 micro meter
(m - minimum size)
Duration of a particulate collection is usually over one
month period after which the sample is analyzed in the
laboratory.
The result are expressed in terms of weight per unit area
per month

2. Filtration

Sample collection is achieved by passing a known

volume of particulate-laden air through a filter
medium, separating the particulate from the air by
sieve action, impaction, diffusion, and electrostatic
attraction. High Volume Sampler operates by this
principle which uses suction blower equipped with
flow control devices to determine the volume of air
passing through the filter medium.

3. Impingement Collector
Impingement collector uses the principle of inertial
force wherein particles in a moving air stream resist
directional change when the stream is deflected by a
surface or any obstacle.
Impingement collection efficiency is a direct function
of particle size-the bigger the particle size, the more
efficient is the collection.
4. Particle Matter Monitor/Analyzer
Uses gravimetric method, light scattering property of
particulate, or the particulate characteristic to resist
light penetration

Gas/Vapor Sampling
1. Absorption in liquids

Most applied method of sampling collection.

Involves the use of different types of bubblers,

absorbers or impingers, absorbing reagent
specific for each air pollutants to be collected,
suction blower or vacuum pump and flowmetering device or orifice needle.

2. Other Collection Methods

2.a Adsorption in Solids

Achieved by removing the air pollutant from the

air stream through contact with adsorbent such
as charcoal, activated carbon or alumina and
silica gel. Adsorbents may also be impregnated
with chemical compounds for chemisorptions of
specific air pollutants. The adsorbed air
pollutant is removed from the adsorbent by
different process then analyzed.

2. b Direct Physical Method

Use the property of gases or vapors to produce

color when reacted with certain chemicals. The
Glass indicator tube is a common colorimetric
indicator containing granules of either adsorbent
gels or inert granules coated with the detecting
chemical. A known volume of sample is passed
through this tube and the color produced by the
granules inside the tube is matched with the color
standards with corresponding concentrations
supplied by the manufacturers of the tubes.

II Sampling Site Selection

DAO 14 requires that sampling shall be done at an
elevation of at least two (2) meters above the ground level and
conducted either at the property line or at downwind distance of five
(5) to twenty (20) times the stack height, whichever is more
stringent.
The primary concerns for locating sampling stations in a
basic monitoring system:
a. The site must be located in a populated area
b. Several sites must be located downwind of the major
emission sources
c. The sampler intake must be exposed to the pollutants in
an open area.

III Selection of Air Pollutants to be Monitored

In checking compliance with air quality standards, the

selection of air pollutants to be monitored depends
on the source(s). Industrial sources burning
voluminous amounts of bunker fuel oil will definitely
emit oxides of sulfur. Particulate matter will also be
emitted if combustion is relatively inefficient.

IV Sampling Duration & Frequency

Frequency is determined by the realization of the

objective(s) taking into consideration source operation
(continuous or by batches) and meteorological
conditions.

In assessing air quality, the duration of the monitoring

program can be viewed on three time scales: (1) short
term;(2) intermittent; (3) permanent.

Short term monitoring is usually carried out for

special purposes such as preliminary assessment of
pollution levels prior to beginning a more extensive
monitoring effort.

Intermittent monitoring (one month per season or

one day per six days) can save costs, especially
when manual samplers are employed. If the
sampling record is long enough (several years) the
data can be useful for trend analyses and control
strategy evaluation.

Permanent monitoring is usually carried out

whenever it has been determined, on the basis of
either short term or intermittent measurements, that
such monitoring is needed

B. Source Monitoring

Source monitoring involves measurement of the amount

and concentration of air pollutants emitted from a
specific source. The primary objective is to determine
compliance or non-compliance of the source with
national emission standards. Source monitoring is also
conducted to determine the efficiency of existing air
pollution control equipment and to select the
appropriate design for a planned pollution control
system.

Source or stack sampling is usually done where there is

acknowledged or suspected pollution or where it is
desired to measure efficiency of air pollution control
equipment.

The reasons for performing stack sampling are always

the same. Samples may be necessary for any one, or
more, of the following reasons:

To obtain data concerning the emissions for an

emission inventory
To determine compliance with regulations
To gather information which will enable the
selection of appropriate control equipment
To determine the efficiency of the control
equipment installed to reduce emissions
To evaluate emission changes as a result of
process or equipment modification
To establish data as a legal evidence

I Sampling Site Selection

The primary criterion in selecting the test site is that sample
extracted from the site be representative of the main gas stream.
Relatively little is known about the disposition of particulate
within any specific moving gas stream. Every effort should be
made to obtain a site which the particulate/gas mixture is as
homogenous as possible. Homogeneity is best achieved in
straight vertical ducts. Ideally, the gas flow should not be
disturbed by any obstruction or change in direction for
approximately 8 hydraulic diameters upstream or 2 diameters
downstream from the proposed test location.
In addition for flow considerations, accessibility to the site is an
important factor. Safety, of personnel as well as clearance for the
probe and sampling apparatus, availability of electricity, weather
exposure, and presence of toxic or explosive gases must all be
considered in selecting a site.

II Sampling Duration
Generally used for particulate matter sampling, each traverse
point should be sampled for an equal time increment.
A five (5) minute sampling period per point is desirable;
however, a two (2) minute period is an acceptable minimum,
sampling time may vary considerably depending on the
process.
One (1)-hour total sampling period is usually the minimum total
sampling time for one test.
At least two (2) tests should be made.
Any test that, upon completion, is found to have contained an
error in the sampling or analysis, or that is not within 10% of
the calculated isokinetic rate should be repeated. During cyclic
operation, at least one complete cycle should be sampled to
obtain an average particulate emission value.

III Sampling Methodologies

Grab sampling

A sample of the flue gas is extracted from a stack

by the use of a sampling probe and collected in a
container. The sample is then analyzed in the
laboratory to determined the concentration of
pollutants. The sample may be analyzed through
Orsat, Wet chemistry or Other Methods. Excess
samples may be stored for further verification of
accuracy of sample analysis.

Continuous Sampling

A continuous sampling consists of automated

sampler-analyzers, which can determine and
record concentrations of one or more air
pollutants simultaneously. These are commonly
used for gaseous air pollutants and generally
consist of probe or sensors, detectors, pump and
recorders. Since these instruments are much
more expensive than other sampling devices,
their use are very limited.

thank you