Air Quality
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Air Quality Monitoring, Air Sampling, Breathing Apparatus, Emission Monitoring, Gas Detection, Humidity and Temperature Measurement, Odour Monitoring, Control and Treatment, Respiratory Protection
Air Quality Articles
Below is a list of articles that have been published on this topic.
Click on the title to view the whole article
Air Quality - an Overview [Jun 2010]
The importance of regulation and the accumulation of reliable data cannot be overestimated
Air quality continues to become a more and more pertinent issue to people as they get on with their busy lives. The quality of the air that we breathe means different things to different people. Of concern to all of us is the potential for negative effects to our health. Both UK and EU legislation1 recognises the ‘worst offenders’, namely sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and heavy metals including mercury and lead. Epidemiological studies, past and present have made the link between increased levels of pollution in the atmosphere and mortality rate. The ‘Great’ London Smog of December 1952 was accountable by some estimations for the premature death of up to 12,000 people2. The causes were stable atmospheric conditions, cold weather, but pertinently the release of enhanced masses of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter from domestic and industrial burning of coal and other solid fuels. The likelihood of such an event happening in the western world today is remote. The use of ‘cleaner’ fuels and tighter industrial regulation ensure that even under the most unfavourable meteorological conditions, major urban centres are not prone to the pea-soup conditions of yesteryear.
Heavy Metals' Monitoring [Jun 2010]
Monitoring airborne heavy metals in rural areas
Much of the focus on measuring heavy metals in the ambient atmosphere has been to establish monitoring sites at locations close to local sources of heavy metals in industrial and urban areas. However, there is also a specific legislative requirement to monitor heavy metals in rural areas where concentrations are considerably lower. The Rural Heavy Metals Monitoring and Deposition Network determines the concentrations of heavy metals in samples of ambient air and rainwater collected at remote rural sites across the UK, which are not unduly influenced by local sources of anthropogenic emissions. This article describes the operation of this monitoring network and how the data are used to determine background levels of heavy metals in the UK (and thereby demonstrate compliance of the UK with the relevant EU legislation for rural areas), and in the quantification of heavy metal deposition from the atmosphere.
Wind Measurement [Mar 2010]
The use of wind sensors for air quality applications
This article will give an overview of the types of wind sensors available for air quality applications. The focus is on the use of ‘in-situ’ sensors rather than remote sensing techniques such as wind radars (often called wind profilers).
The article will cover sensor location, a much neglected but critical aspect of wind measurement. This is often as important as the sensors themselves.
More or Less Air Quality - Monitoring Air Quality at the Personal Scale [Mar 2010]
A synergistic collision of technologies is offering a new chance to create air quality networks at an affordable cost. Lower power, lower cost GPS plus GSM networking via mobile phone network are combining with improved low cost gas sensors that sense gas concentrations at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels. The result? Low cost air quality networks that can monitor urban air quality in real time.
Air Pollution - Monitoring Particulates [Dec 2009]
An effective monitoring strategy allows the impact from particulate to be assessed and controlled.
Clean air is an essential requirement for the health and wellbeing of both the human race and the environment we live in, but achieving it is a constant battle with air pollution. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than two million premature deaths each year can be attributed to the effects of urban outdoor and indoor air pollution1, a shocking statistic indeed.
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Air Quality Monitoring, Air Sampling, Breathing Apparatus, Emission Monitoring, Gas Detection, Humidity and Temperature Measurement, Odour Monitoring, Control and Treatment, Respiratory Protection
Environmental Monitoring Standards and Methods - Selection of standards for emission monitoring [Dec 2009]
With the increasing requirement for the installation of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) it is important that capital investment is protected and that instrumentation gives reliable, meaningful and repeatable data. Fitting MCERTS-approved equipment is one element but it is extremely important that the system is verified. The verification process requires the use of standard reference methods to underpin the data.
Air Quality Monitoring [Sep 2009]
Meeting the requirements on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
Ammonia Sensors and Their Applications [Sep 2009]
The key to success is understanding the monitoring environment, and the specific benefits and limitations of the sensors selected
Monitoring Heavy Metals [Jun 2009]
Recent changes to the monitoring of heavy metals in ambient air
The UK Heavy Metals Monitoring Network measures the concentration of metals in ambient air in order to assess the UK’s compliance with European air quality legislation and the exposure of the general population to potentially harmful compounds. This article describes the operation of the Network, and how its constituent monitoring sites around the UK have recently been reorganised in order to ensure compliance with European legislation.
Continuous Emissions Monitoring [Mar 2009]
An overview of some of the techniques employed
The topic of monitoring stationary sources emissions is very broad and many books have been published on the subject. This article is aimed at giving an overview of some of the techniques employed.
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Air Quality Monitoring, Air Sampling, Breathing Apparatus, Emission Monitoring, Gas Detection, Humidity and Temperature Measurement, Odour Monitoring, Control and Treatment, Respiratory Protection
Air Quality - Cleared for Take-Off [Dec 2008]
Improving working environments
Although you can’t open a window or pop outside for air at 30,000 feet, passenger aircraft cabins have many similarities with modern offices in the environmental problems they face. Both aircraft and office buildings attempt to balance energy efficiency with other needs such as adequate ventilation, clean air, and acceptable temperature and humidity levels. In both environments the goal of energy efficiency is achieved by decreasing the amount of outside air drawn into the ventilation system and hoping for an acceptable balance between health and efficiency.
Air Quality Monitoring [Sep 2008]
Future of emissions/air monitoring and the linking of European standards
We would all like to gaze into a crystal ball to see how the industry is going to develop but we do know of forthcoming standards and legislation which will affect the way we operate. European standards developed by CEN have a mandatory requirement and must be adopted by all states within the European Union.
An Introduction to Carbon Trading [Jan 2007]
The Kyoto Protocol's flexible trading mechanisms
The international market for carbon credits grew in value to an estimated US $30 billion in 2006, three times greater than the previous year, it is predicted that demand will grow as countries in the developed world are unlikely to meet their Kyoto target of reducing their GHG emissions by an average of 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2012.
Heavy Metals Monitoring [Jan 2007]
Observations on concentration levels and trends over 25 years
Air pollution is an issue that concerns many communities. The need for air quality measurements has many drivers including: measuring the exposure of the general population to a variety of toxic compounds; informing policy development, assessing compliance with legislative target values. The measurement infrastructure must be able to readily respond to rapidly changing requirements such as the specification of new pollutants, or assessment of episodes e.g. trans-boundary pollution events. In particular, the determination of the total concentrations of metals in ambient air is of great importance within this framework.
State-of-the-Art Spectroscopy [Mar 2006]
Protecting our environment is the most important strategy for maintaining a high quality of life for current and future generations.
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Air Quality Monitoring, Air Sampling, Breathing Apparatus, Emission Monitoring, Gas Detection, Humidity and Temperature Measurement, Odour Monitoring, Control and Treatment, Respiratory Protection
Asbestos Testing & Airborne Fibre Monitoring [Sep 2005]
Quality control requirements and scientific testing methods
The Generation of Dust is Not a New Phenomenon [Sep 2005]
An effective approach to ambient dust monitoring in the UK
Problems with Pitots Reporting Emissions [Sep 2005]
Issues with flow measurement in stacks
Something in the Air Monitoring Air Pollution [Sep 2005]
Furthering air quality modelling and research
