Continuous Emission Monitoring Flashcards
Explain why volcanic emissions of SO2 are not classified as pollution
Air pollution is defined as the substances that are added to air as a result of human activity. Natural events and decomposition of natural matter are not accounted for in pollution monitoring.
Who is in charge of air pollution management?
Federal and provincial governments with supporting independent agencies
Describe the main issue associated with stack emissions of sulfur dioxide.
Sulfur mixes with moisture in ambient air producing acid rain.
Which of the following statements is true?
(a) Oxygen is one of the greenhouse gases.
(b) Smog forms from ozone and particulate matter.
(c) Analyzers for environmental monitoring need a higher upper range limit than
those for process monitoring.
(d) Nitrogen oxides form more easily at low temperatures.
B
List the 4 major greenhouse gases aside from water vapor.
1) Carbon Dioxide
2) Nitrous Oxide
3) Methane
4) Chlorofluorocarbons
Which gas is responsible for ozone layer depletion and what problem(s) does(do) ozone
layer depletion contribute to?
Halocarbons used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam blowing, and solvents. As the Ozone layer thins more UV is absorbed by the biosphere causing skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to crops.
What are the two categories of particulate matter (PM) and which is most damaging in
respiration? What is one way to monitor PM?
PM2.5: particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less and cause the most harm to human health
PM10: particulate matter that is between 2.5 and 10 micrometers in diameter
What are the two categories of pollution monitoring?
1) Source monitoring of air pollution
2) Ambient air monitoring
How do the Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines impact industries in
Alberta?
All industrial facilities have to be designed to keep ambient air qualities below Ambient Air Quality Objectives and Guidelines.
Define the acronym CEMS. What category of monitoring is this used for?
Continuous Emission Monitoring System used in source monitoring of air pollution.
In Alberta, what government document specifies the requirements for ambient air
monitoring equipment?
Air Monitoring Directive of 2016
List three analysis methods for the determination of VOCs.
1) IR
2) GC-FID (Gas Chromatography with a Flame Ionization Detector)
3) Mass spectrometry
Why would ambient air monitoring stations measure wind speed and direction as well as
concentration of air pollutants?
Wind speed and direction can help identify the source of pollution and predict where the polluted air will move
What method can be used to measure SO2?
UV/Fluorescence
What method can be used to measure Oxides of Nitrogen?
Chemiluminescence/ Catalytic conversion
What method can be used to measure CO?
NDIR Absorption
What method can be used to measure Ozone?
UV Absorption/ Chemiluminescence
What method can be used to measure Total Hydrocarbons?
Flame Ionization Detector
What method can be used to measure fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10)?
Light scattering/ high volume sampling/ low volume sampler (dichot)/ Beta Attenuation Monitoring
