EPA 600-M-91-029
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development
Washington, DC 20460
Office of International
Activities
Washington, DC 20460
Off ice of Air
and Radiation
Washington, DC 20460
EPA/600/M-91/029
November 1991
   &EPA
Air Quality Management

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                                   EPA Technical Information Packages


      This brochure is part of a series of information packages prepared by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Aimed
at the international community, the packages focus on key environmental and public health issues being investigated by EPA. The products
highlighted within these packages provide a sound technical basis for decisions regarding the development of environmental policy, abatement
activities, and pollution prevention. By pooling expertise in the areas of environmental science and technology, significant progress can be
anticipated to ensure a habitable environment for all nations.

      Air Quality Management contains information on the problems of ambient and indoor air pollution, associated health risks, monitoring
methods, and control technologies. Brochures and associated support material are available on the following topics:

      • Ensuring Safe Drinking Water....EPA/600/M-91/012           • Water Quality	EPA/600/M-91/033
      • Mining Waste Management	EPA/600/M-91/027           • Risk Assessment	EPA/600/M-91/034
      • Pesticide Waste Disposal	EPA/600/M-91/028           • Pesticide Usage Guidelines	EPA/600/M-91/035
      • Air Quality Management	EPA/600/M-91/029           • Pollution Prevention	EPA/600/M-91/036
      • Solid Waste Disposal	EPA/600/M-91/030           • Environmental Impact
      • Hazardous Waste Management ..EPA/600/M-91/031                Assessments	EPA/600/M-91/037
      • Small Community Wastewater                              • EPA Information Sources	EPA/600/M-91/038
           Systems	EPA/600/M-91/032           • Environmental Management ...EPA/600/M-91/039


      Each complete Technical Information Package (TIP) consists of a cover brochure as well as all of the documents highlighted within the
body of the brochure. Generally, the cover brochures contain a section discussing the environmental issue, associated health and environmental
effects, guidelines, sampling and analytical methods,  as well as treatment and disposal technologies. Following this section, a bibliography is
provided to identify other important sources and documents in the field. Finally, a number of Office of Research and Development (ORD) technical
experts followed by some additional EPA resources are listed to facilitate consultation and technical assistance. Document ordering information
is provided on page 8.

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Air Quality
     Ambient air quality is a concern because
of detrimental effects on the public health and
the environment as well as physical structures
such as buildings or statues. Indoor air quality
is also important  since many people spend the
majority of their time in enclosed structures.
     Outdoor air  quality may be degraded by
transportation, energy production, manufac-
turing, hazardous waste treatment processes,
and other activities. Some of the compounds
released by these activities  include: particu-
lates (soot and metals),  volatile organic com-
pounds, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, carbon
monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Chlorofluoro-
carbons are strongly implicated in depletion of
the stratospheric ozone layer. Sulfur oxides and
nitrogen oxides may damage woodland and
aquatic ecosystems  through acid deposition.
Additionally, high ambientlevels of ozone may
adversely affect human health as well as veg-
etation.
     Indoor air quality is adversely affected by
emissions from a  variety of sources including:
1) radon gas from the soil, well water or build-
ing materials; 2) organic compounds from build-
ing materials, furnishings and consumer prod-
ucts; 3) other pollutants (e.g., particulates, CO
and NOX) from combustion sources; 4) second-
hand tobacco smoke; and 5) asbestos from
degrading insulation.
     Emission  standards and monitoring re-
quirements for several industrial classifications
have resulted from clean air legislation in the
U.S. Some of the sources of concern for which
emission standards and monitoring require-
ments have been regulated in the U.S. include
the following: coal fired power plants, oil refin-
eries, automobiles, andchemical process plants.

Strategies for Defining the

Environmental Problem
     Air sampling and analysis play a signifi-
cant part in the surveillance and evaluation of
the effectiveness of air pollution control tech-
niques.  Sampling procedures include point
source and nonpoint source for ambient air and
indoor air.  EPA's Atmospheric Research and
Exposure Assessment Laboratory has devel-
oped several air quality models (e.g., the Urban
Airshed Model for Ozone and Ozone Isopleth
Plotting Package) to  estimate  environmental
exposure for air pollutants. Air quality models
for hazardous, or toxic, pollutants are being
developed as the need arises. For example, the
Complex Terrain Dispersion Model, operable
on a personal computer, is useful for estimating
pollutant concentrations in  mountainous re-
gions. All models are used to estimate concen-
trations  of  pollutants at ground level where
public health may be  affected adversely. The
effects of air pollutants on human health can be
determined from exposure assessment meth-
ods.


•   EPA/450/3-90/022  Air  Pollution and
Health Risk — This factsheet contains a gen-
eral overview of air pollution and associated
health risks.

•   EPA/450/3-90/023 Evaluating Exposures
to Toxic Air Pollutants : A Citizen's Guide —
Toxic air pollutants are defined and a 4-step
approach to air pollution exposure assessment
is presented in this publication.

•   EPA/450/3-90/024 Risk Assessment for
Toxic Air Pollutants: A Citizen's Guide—This
document briefly describes toxic air pollutants
and the process typically followed to estimate
associated health risks.

•   EPA/450/4-91/007 Guidance on the Ap-
plication of Refined Dispersion Models for Air
Toxic Releases — Guidance on model use for
determining the dispersion of point source
plumes is presented in this document.

•   EPA/450/3-88/016  Glossary of Terms
Related to Health,  Exposure, and Risk Assess-
ment  — Terms that  are commonly used in
health and risk assessments for toxic air pollut-
ants are defined in this glossary.


Monitoring Air Pollution
    Several active and passive sampling and
analytical methods for determining inorganic
and organic compound levels in ambient air or
from point sources have been  developed. In-
door air can be monitored by several sampling
methods. Sampling procedures include meth-
                                                                                         Printed on Recycled Paper

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Workers removing asbestos-laden insulating materials from a radiator in a school corridor. Damage and deterioration over time increases
the likelihood that fibers will be released.

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ods for ambient and stack sampling and are
available for many pollutants. Where possible,
continuous sampling is used (e.g., for SO2 and
NOX). For other cases, intermittent sampling is
used (e.g., for particulates). Obtaining repre-
sentative samples and maintaining their integ-
rity prior to analysis is a problem for some
pollutants. Therefore, quality assurance meth-
ods must be included as part of the procedures.
Even though more recent legislation in the U.S.
may require more sophisticated procedures to
overcome uncertainties, existing methods
should be adequate for characterizing air qual-
ity in most communities.

•   EPA/600/4-89/017 CompendiumofMeth-
ods for the Determination of Toxic Organic
Compounds  in Ambient Air — Determination
of toxic organic compounds in ambient air is a
complex task primarily because of the wide
variety of compounds of interest. This compen-
dium of methods has been prepared to provide
current procedures in a standardized format for
measuring toxic organic pollutants of primary
importance in ambient air. The various meth-
ods provide both sampling and analytical pro-
cedures for a variety of pollutants,  including
pesticides, PCBs, formaldehyde and other al-
dehydes, phosgene, n-nitroso-dimethylamine,
cresol/phenol, dioxin, and non-speciated, non-
methane organic compounds.

•   EPA/625/6-79/005 Technology Transfer
Handbook: Continuous Air Pollution Source
Monitoring Systems—Detailed information is
presented to develop a continuous emissions
monitoring program at a stationary source fa-
cility and meet U.S.  requirements, including
design and performance specifications  and
monitoring and data reporting. Discussions of
extractive sampling techniques and in situ meth-
ods are presented, along with explanations of
the analytical techniques used in some mar-
keted instrumentation. Methods for monitoring
opacity, pollutant gases, and combustion gases,
such as oxygen and  carbon dioxide, are de-
scribed.

Control Technologies
     A variety of approaches are available to
reduce emissions from stationary sources (e.g.,
process modifications or product substitution
to prevent pollution and control technology to
remove the pollutants from flue gases). To date
the emphasis has  been on development  and
demonstration of control technology for large,
stationary sources.
     Technologies in use in the U.S. include: 1)
electrostatic precipitators and fabric filters for
paniculate  control, 2) wet and dry flue  gas
desulfurization systems  for SOX  control, 3)
combustion modification and  flue gas treat-
ment for  NOX control, 4) incineration for the
disposal of  hazardous, medical and municipal
wastes, 5) construction techniques to prevent
radon entry into new or existing buildings, and
6) measures to minimize exposure to asbestos.
     Fly ash and other paniculate matter in flue
gas can be controlled by several methods. The
two technologies most frequently used to
achieve high efficiency control are electro-
static precipitators (ESP) and fabric filters (FF).
The ESP has multiple  fields consisting of a
charging electrode followed by a collection
plate on which the paniculate is deposited. The
FF collects the paniculate by physical mecha-
nisms as the flue gas is passed through fabric
bags. Both systems use physical processes to
remove the  particulates from the collection
surface and deposit them in a hopper for re-
moval.

•   EPA/625/1-85/017  Manual:  Operation
and Maintenance Manual for Electrostatic Pre-
cipitators —This manual focuses on the opera-
tion and maintenance (O&M) of typical elec-
trostatic precipitators (ESPs). Available infor-
mation on ESP theory and design is summa-
rized in sufficient  detail  to provide a basic
backgroundfor the O&M portionsof the manual.

•   EPA/625/1-86/020  Manual:  Operation
and Maintenance Manual for Fabric Filters—
The operation and maintenance of fabric filters
is presented to assist plant operators in identify-
ing typical problems encountered when operat-
ing fabric filters. Cause-effect type information
is presented to assist the operator in locating the
source of a problem.

•   EPA/625/6-91/014  Handbook: Control
Technologies for Hazardous Air Pollutants —
A  methodology is presented for determining
the performance and cost of air pollution con-
trol techniques designed to reduce or eliminate

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 the emissions of potentially hazardous air pol-
 lutants from industrial/commercial sources.

     Removal of SOX from flue gas has been
 the subject of intense investigation for some
 time. Wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and
 spray dryer absorbers with fabric filters (SDA/
 EF)  are the established  technology on new
 systems requiring high efficiency control. A
 variety of processes are being developed to
 achieve moderate control when retrofitted on
 existing systems.

 •    EPA/625/1-85/019  Flue Gas Desulfu-
 rization Inspection and Performance Evalua-
 rion^-This manual contains practical informa-
 tion for environmental inspectors to assist them
 in the systematic inspection of flue gas desulfu-
 rization systems to determine compliance with
 emission standards.
     As with SOX, NOX emissions should be
reduced.
•   EPA/600/2-91/029   Sourcebook: NOX
Control Technology Data — This report is a
compilation of available information on the
control of nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from
stationary sources (e.g., combustion turbines,
internal combustion engines, non-utility boil-
ers and heaters, and waste incinerators). The
background of NOX formation and major NOX
sources is discussed, along with processes for
NOX control. The current status of NOX control
technology is discussed, and applications to
meet permitting requirements are detailed. Per-
mitted NOX emission levels in the U.S. are
summarized by combustion source, fuel type,
and  control technology.  Documentation in-
cludes references and contacts for further infor-
mation.
     The destruction of hazardous organic com-
pounds by incineration is widely practiced in
the U.S. These systems are designed to convert
as much of the waste to CO2 and HjO as
possible and minimize incomplete combus-
tion. Trial combustion burns are used to deter-
mine performance.

•   EPA/625/6-89/019 Guidance on Setting
Permit Conditions and Reporting Trial Burn
Results — This handbook provides guidance
for establishing operational conditions for in-
cinerators. It has been developed to assist U.S.
permit writers in translating trial burn results
into site-specific operational conditions for an
incinerator permit. Included are a detailed dis-
cussion of control parameters, design consider-
ations, and suggested reporting formats. These
parameters are presented in the document along
with guidance on how to develop permit oper-
ating conditions using the trial bum data.  The
guidance also will assist applicants in planning
trial burns to address the key operating param-
eters that must be measured and emphasize the
necessity to test  "worst-case"  operations to
enable permit applicants  to tailor their pro-
posed operating conditions to the needs of their
facility.
•   EPA/600/S2-90/039  Minimization and
Control of Hazardous Combustion By-prod-
ucts — This summary presents an overview of
operational strategies for controlling hazard-
ous combustion by-products (products of in-
complete combustion) that result from such
thermal destruction methods  as incinerators,
boilers and kilns.

•   EPA/625/6-89/024  Handbook: Opera-
tion and Maintenance  of Hospital Medical
Waste Incinerators — This document should
assist operators of hospital waste incinerators
in minimizing air pollution emissions. A gen-
eral overview is provided with the suggestion
that specific operator and maintenance manu-
als for specific equipment be obtained from
manufacturers as needed. This handbook is a
supplement to more detailed and specific O&M
methods.

     Several U.S. facilities arebeingconstructed
to burn municipal solid waste to reduce the
amount of landfilled material. Some of these
facilities are being equipped to recover energy.
Combustion facilities are required to use good
combustion practices and employ appropriate
flue gas cleaning techniques to limit emissions
of particulate matter, acid gases, trace metals
(cadmium, lead, and mercury) and trace organ-
ics (dioxins and furans).
    In many areas of the U.S., elevated levels
of indoor radon gas pose substantial risks of
increased lung cancer. The radon may originate
from radium in the soil or fill material under the

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structure, radium within building materials, or
gas accumulated in drinking water from wells.
The prevention of radon entry can be accom-
plished by several methods.
•   EPA 625/5-&7/0\9RadonReduction Tech-
niques for Detached Houses and EPA 625/2-
91/032 Radon-resistant Construction Tech-
niques for New Residential Construction  are
two technical guidance documents that aid in
the selection, design, and  implementation of
measures for reducing indoor radon levels.
    Asbestos has caused air quality problems
in older buildings that contain friable (brittle or
easily crumbled) asbestos material. Asbestos is
a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that  has
been used in the manufacture  of over 3,000
products due to its nonflammable and noncor-
rosive properties. Virtually invisible (0.1 to
10(1),  asbestos fibers are lightweight and can
remain airborne for hours. If inhaled, the fibers
may cause diseases that disrupt the  normal
functioning of the lungs and can ultimately lead
to cancer. Operations and maintenance pro-
grams have been developed to minimize expo-
sure of building occupants to asbestos fibers
and use of asbestos is being phased out. Meth-
ods for surveys, abatement, and proper opera-
tion and maintenance to minimize exposure are
available.

       EPA/20T-2003 Managing Asbestos in
Place — This document contains an overview
of methods for controlling asbestos.

       EPA/530-SW-85-007 Asbestos Waste
Management Guidance — This manual pro-
vides guidance on the most effective methods
to handle asbestos-containing waste materials
during generation, transport, and final disposal.
Mobile Sources
     Increased numbers of transportation ve-
hicles have created a mobile source environ-
mental problem in many parts of the world.
Motor vehicles—cars, trucks, and buses—are
responsible for half of the VOCs emitted on a
daily basis in  the U.S. They account for 50
percent of the hydrocarbon and nitrogen-oxide
pollutants which form smog in our cities, 90
percent of the carbon monoxide pollutants, and
over 50 percent of all other toxic air pollutants.
As urban areas increase in population, more
heavily congested traffic leads to higher emis-
sions levels. Other  complicating  factors in-
clude poor vehicle maintenance, deterioration
in fuel quality, deliberate tampering with or
removal of pollution controls (catalytic con-
verters), and use of leaded gasoline in cars that
require unleaded gasoline.
Photo by S.C. Delaney

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                                              Additional References

Asbestos

Kominsky, J., et al. 1990. "Evaluation of Two Cleaning Methods for Removal;of Asbestos Fibers from Carpet." EPA/600/S2-90/053.

Mobile Sources

Adler, J.M. and P.M. Carey. 1989. "Air Toxics Emissions and Health Risks from Mobile Sources." Air & Waste Management Assoc. paper
89-34A.6, June 1989.

Carey, P.M. 1987. "Air Toxics Emissions from Motor Vehicles." EPA technical report EPA-AA-TSS-PA-86-5.

Sampling

Chuang, J., et al. 1987. "Field Comparison of Polyurethane Foam and XAD-2 Resin for Air Sampling for Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons."
Environmental Science and Technology. 2:798-804.

Lewis, R., etal. 1982. "Modification andEvaluation of a High Volume Air Sampler for Pesticides and Semivolatile Industrial Organic Chemicals."
Analytical Chemistry. 54:592-594.

Lewis, R., et al.  1985. "Thermally Desorbable Passive Sampling Device for Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air." Analytical Chemistry.
57:214.

Lewis,R.,efa/. 1988. "Measurement of Atmospheric Concentrations of Common Househo\dPestitides." Environmental Monitoring Assessment.
10: 59-73.

McClenny, W., et al. 1989. "A Field Strategy for Sorting Volatile Organic Compounds into Source Related Groups." Environmental Science and
Technology. 23:1373-79.

Office of the Federal Register. 1991. (Methods for sampling and analysis of air pollutants). 40 CFR Ch. 1, Pan 60, Appendices: 687-1152.

Wilson, N., et al. 1990. "Sampling Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air." EPA/600/D-90/112. NTIS# PB90-263047.

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        Project Area
Ambient Air Quality (Outdoor Air)
 Acid Deposition
 Air Quality Modeling
 Atmospheric Processes
 Model Evaluation/Applications
 Ozone Ecological Effects
 Photochemistry; ozone

Asbestos Abatement

Control Technologies
 Gas Cleaning Technologies
 Global Emissions and Control
 Organics Control

Human Health and Environmental Effects
 Exposure Assessment
 Human Exposure
 Stratospheric  Ozone Protection

Indoor Mr
 Radon Mitigation

Incineration

Mobile Sources

Municipal Waste Combustion

Sampling & Analysis
 Air Monitoring
 Methods Compendium
 Passive Sampling
 PCDD/PCDF
 Pesticides
 QA Handbook/Traceability Protocols
 Semivolatile Compounds
 Source Methods
Air Quality Expertise List
      Contact                         FAX

  Jim Vickery                     919-541-7588
  Francis Schiermeier              919-541 -1379
  JackH. Shreffler                919-541-7588
  Robin Dennis                   919-541-1379
  Bill Hogsett                     503-757-4601
  Basil Dimitriades                919-541-7588

  Thomas Powers                  513-569-7787
  Michael A. Maxwell               919-541-2382
  Richard D. Stern                  919-541-2382
  Wade H. Ponder                  919-541-2157
  DalePahl                        919-541-1486
  Gerald G. Akland                 919-541-7588
  William J. Rhodes                919-541-7885
  Michael C. Osborne               919-541-2157

  Robert Hall                      919-541-2382

  Frank M. Black                   919-541-4609

  James Kilgroe                    919-541-2382
  Thomas Hartlage                 919-541-1486
  William McClenny                919-541-4609
  Jim Mulik                       919-541-4609
  Robert Harless                   919-541-4609
  Robert G.Lewis                  919-541-4609
  Jerry Yarns                      919-541-4609
  Nancy Wilson                    919-541-1486
  Rodney Midget                   919-541-3527

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                                     Ordering Technical Documents


      The EPA documents mentioned in the Technical Information Package brochures can be ordered at no charge (while supplies are available)
from the Center for Environmental Research Information (CERI). Once the CERI inventory is exhausted, clients will be directed to the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS) where documents may be purchased. Orders can be placed by mail, phone, or FAX. To order documents,
have the document number or the EXACT title ready. The journal articles listed in the Additional References section may be ordered from the U.S.
National Focal Point of INFOTERRA.
CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INFORMATION (CERI)
U.S. EPA, P.O. BOX 19963
CINCINNATI, OH 45219-0963
513-569-7562 PHONE     989-296-(US EPA UD) TELEX
513-569-7566 FAX
NEEDED TO ORDER: EPA document number or the EXACT title.
INFOTERRA U.S. NATIONAL FOCAL POINT
U.S. EPA
401 M ST., S.W., PM211A
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20460
202-260-5917 PHONE  (23) 4979995 TELEX
202-260-3923 FAX
NEEDED TO ORDER: Name of journal, volume number, and page numbers.
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5285 PORT ROYAL ROAD
SPRINGFIELD, VA 22161
703-487-4650 PHONE
703-321-8547 FAX
NEEDED TO ORDER: EPA document number, NTIS number,
   or EXACT title.
                                                                                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1992—65CN359

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                           Organization of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                                               with Functional Notes
                           Staff Offices

                        Executive Secretary
                            Civil Rights
                        Advisory Committee
                           Staff Support
Program Offices
Support Offices
     Office of Administration and
       Resources Management

           Budget & Finance
           Human Resources
              Facilities
        Information Management
         Procurement & Grants
Office of General
    Counsel

   Legal Advice
Defensive Litigation
                                            Associate
                                          Administrators

                                           Public Affairs
                                         Legislative Affairs
                                       State/Local Relations
Office of Policy, Planning
     and Evaluation

 Economic & Policy Analysis
   Accountability Systems
  Regulatory Management
Pollution Prevention Program
   Office of the
Inspector General

      Audits
Criminal Investigations
Regional Offices
                                         (Program Operations and State Oversight)
1
Region 1
Boston


Region II
New York

1 1
Region III
Philadelphia

Region IV
Aaanta

1
Region V
Chicago

1
Region VI
Dallaa

1
Region VII
K« ran. City

1 1
Region VIII
Denver

Region IX
San Francfaco


Region X
Seattle

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