AIR POLLUTION MONITORING INSTRUMENTATION

The first fundamental of air pollution abatement in the U.S. is that all U.S. residents are entitled to breathe air of at least standard quality. The standard quality is spelled out in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Secondly, the states are responsible for achieving this quality. The states must answer these questions: How bad is the air quality now. How much do we have to improve it. To answer the first question we must measure the present levels of the pollutants sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, photochemical oxidants and particulate matter. The second question is answered by studying the quantitative relationship between ambient air pollutant concentrations and the amounts of pollutants emitted by the various source (modeling). This in turn requires measurement of pollutants emitted through smoke stacks and auto exhausts. Without accurate methods of measurement, auto manufacturers cannot know their progress towards a low emission vehicle and cannot be sure of their progress relative to that of their competitors. Power plants cannot determine the efficiency of scrubbing devices; cities and states cannot determine if they are successfully implementing their ambient air goals.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Pub. in Proceedings of Naval Environmental Protection Data Base Instrumentation Workshop, Port Hueneme, Calif., on Jul 11-12, 1972, p150-155 1972.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  14th Between E Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20234
• Authors:
  • McNesby, J R
• Publication Date: 1972

Media Info

• Pagination: 8 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Automobiles; Carbon monoxide; Chimneys; Combustion; Concentration (Chemistry); Exhaust gases; Hydrocarbons; Industrial wastes; Instrumentation; Measuring instruments; Monitoring; Nitric oxide; Nitrogen oxides; Oxidizing agents; Particles; Particulates; Photochemical reactions; Pollution control; Standards; Sulfur dioxide
• Uncontrolled Terms: Abatement; Sources
• Old TRIS Terms: Combustion products; Oxidant
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00146096
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM