United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory
Research Triangfe Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-90/005 Mar. 1990
SEPA Project Summary
Technical Assistance
Document for Sampling and
Analysis of Toxic Organic
Compounds in Ambient Air
This guidance document was
originally issued in June 1983. Since
then, significant changes have
occurred in the regulations that cover
volatile and semi-volatile organic air
pollutants. There have also been
significant advances in the collection
and analysis of organic compounds
and in the quality and availability of
calibration and QC samples for them.
This present version of the guidance
document reflects these changes so
that the new information can be
readily available to the monitoring
community. Because the document
covers regulatory issues, sampling
and analytical methods, monitoring
plan development and quality
assurance, it will be an aid to both
governmental and industrial
personnel concerned with monitoring
the ambient air for organic
compounds. It should be useful for
planning and establishing these air
monitoring programs, but it should
not be used as the sole source for
such a program.
This Project Summary was
developed by EPA's Atmospheric
Research and Exposure Assessment
Laboratory, Research Triangle Park,
NC, to announce key findings of the
research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of
the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).
Introduction
When the Technical Assistance
Document for Sampling and Analysis of
Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient
Air was initially published in June 1983, it
was intended as a guide to those who
design and implement ambient air
monitoring programs for toxic organic
compounds. Since that date, there have
been significant advances in the
methodology for analyzing toxic organic
air pollutants (TOAPs), significant
improvements in the quality and
availability of calibration standards for
TOAPs, and significant changes in TOAP
regulations. The combined impact of
these factors limited the vitality of the
Technical Assistance Document and
necessitated revision of the original
document to reflect advances in the field.
Purpose and Audience
This Technical Assistance Document
(TAD) is intended for use by regional,
state, and local environmental regulatory
personnel. It may also aid the regulated
community in developing TOAP
monitoring programs. The TAD is not
intended to serve as a single source of
information from which all necessary
technical input concerning TOAP
monitoring can be obtained. Instead, it is
a guidance document which can be used
as a basis for the development of TOAP
monitoring programs.
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Contents
The revised TAD is presented in seven
major sections, including the introduction.
Section 2 provides fundamental
information concerning risk assessment
and addresses the regulatory issues that
result in a need for TOAP monitoring
programs.
Section 3 focuses on the factors that
affect the development of a TOAP
monitoring program. This section
emphasizes adequate TOAP monitoring
program planning to achieve established
objectives. Topics addressed include
program design based on data quality
objectives, evaluation of available
information, selection of sampling and
analytical protocols, specification of
quality assurance protocols, data
reporting, safety considerations, and
manpower requirements The information
Is presented in a manner that
Impliesstepwise progression through the
planning process; however, actual TOAP
monitoring program planning is an
iterative process wherein conflicts
between program objectives and the
limitations of planning elements are
reconciled.
Section 4 presents an overview of
sampling methods for TOAPs. Sampling
methodologies are reviewed on the basis
of chemical and physical properties. Most
of this section is dedicated to procedures
for volatile and nonvolatile TOAPs.
Advances in sampling protocols for
phase distribution analysis of semi-
volatile TOAPs are also reviewed in this
section.
Section 5 provides an overview of the
various analytical protocols for TOAPs.
Field and laboratory screening
techniques are discussed in general
terms. This section concludes with a
discussion of compound-specific
analytical techniques.
Section 6 serves to integrate the basic
information contained in Sections 4 and 5
and addresses sampling and analytical
approaches for specific organic
compounds. The highlight of Section 6 is
a table summarizing the sampling and
analytical protocols that are suitable for
several of the organic compounds subject
to regulation under Section 112 of the
Clean Air Act.
Section 7 provides information about
the components of effective quality
assurance for a TOAP monitoring
program. The emphasis of this section is
on system design, document control,
data storage, quality audits, reports,
training, equipment maintenance,
calibration, reference materials and
method validation.
Howard Crist is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Technical Assistance Document for Sampling and
Analysis of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air," (Order No. PB 90-
187-014AS; Cost: $23.00 subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Cincinnati OH 45268
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S8-90/005
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