Air monitoring: Research needs.
Sampling and analyses difficulties encountered in the ambient, source and exposure monitoring areas of environmental data sampling of inorganic particulate matter, inorganic gases, organic particulate matter, and organic gases are discussed. Attention is given to instrumentation such as tunable lasers, ion chromatography, optical emission spectroscopy, fiber glass filters, dichotomous samplers, Teflon and other polymeric membrane filters, and electrostatic samplers. A lack of species-tailored devices is noted, as is a need to develop numerical and statistical models that will decrease the required sampling volume for reliable estimates. Finally, better characterizations of the effects that sampling has on the medium sampled are recommended. 8 references.
Volatile hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of the Kiel Bight (Western Baltic)
Abstract Volatile hydrocarbons (VHCs) in the Kiel Bight atmosphere were collected by adsorption on silanized porous glass (PG). This material proved to have a good capacity to concentrate VHCs, and it is easy to clean and to maintain free of contaminants. VHC concentrations in the atmosphere of the Bight vary strongly, depending on the wind direction and the amount of precipitation. Southerly, southwesterly and westerly winds are responsible for the transportation of VHCs from the land to the Kiel Bight.
Measurement of gaseous and particulate nitrates in the atmosphere
Abstract Gaseous and particulate nitrates are simultaneously sampled on a train consisting of a Millipore FHLP filter and a Toyo 51A filter impregnated with NaCl, extracted from the filters and colorimetrically determined. The interferences of NO 2 , of a mixture of NO 2 and O 3 , of PAN and of organic nitrate were examined and found to be negligible in most of the measurements. The field study indicated that the inorganic gaseous nitrate concentration was significantly correlated with the oxidant level, whereas the concentration of particulate nitrate had no correlation with the oxidant level.