Ambient air monitoring
Ambient air monitoring
(OP)
Hello everyone:
I'm involved in designing a sampling plan to collect ambient air samples (VOCs and H2S) along the fenceline of a waste disposal facility. This facility has a dike (approx. 8 ft high and 6-7 ft wide) as its fenceline. The topography around the facility primarily consist of flat terrain with shrubs and marsh land. We plan to place the samplers as suggested in EPA guidance documents. However, there is a good chance that such technically appropriate sampling locations might be inaccessible. In that case the only sampling location(s) practically possible would be sampling on the dike and am not sure if it is appropriate to collect samples on these dikes which are almost 8 ft high. Please comment providing a rationale for your suggestion.
Thank you,
Nandan
I'm involved in designing a sampling plan to collect ambient air samples (VOCs and H2S) along the fenceline of a waste disposal facility. This facility has a dike (approx. 8 ft high and 6-7 ft wide) as its fenceline. The topography around the facility primarily consist of flat terrain with shrubs and marsh land. We plan to place the samplers as suggested in EPA guidance documents. However, there is a good chance that such technically appropriate sampling locations might be inaccessible. In that case the only sampling location(s) practically possible would be sampling on the dike and am not sure if it is appropriate to collect samples on these dikes which are almost 8 ft high. Please comment providing a rationale for your suggestion.
Thank you,
Nandan





RE: Ambient air monitoring
There is an ongoing air sampling project in my city where the samples are taken at the level of the rooftop. An 8' sample height is basically ceiling height, so as long as the sample locations and elevations are documented I should think you would still be collecting valid information.
I think you could devise a plan that would include the ability to correlate samples at the 8' level with samples at the level you want.
RE: Ambient air monitoring
RE: Ambient air monitoring
Also measuring H2S is not a trivial project. It is not stable in cannisters at ppb levels, even in glass lined SS cans. It will oxidize if stored in air, it can be lost in the moisture in the can, it can be lost in the measuring device very easily, etc. I've spent the better part of 20 years (pulp and paper industry) measuring sulfur gases at industrial, workplace and ambient levels. My last project before being downsized was trying to determine emission rates from wastewater treatment facilities to develop emission rate correlations with aqueous levels.
Better make sure that you know what levels you need to measure and do some lab work, including the sampling method, to make sure you can. A lot of work has also been done in the agricultural (swine) industry, and can be found online.