Monitoring Programs

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

NH₃ is a natural compound found in the environment as part of the nitrogen cycle and can also come from human activity. NH₃ is monitored by the WBEA because it is used by one industry member to help reduce SO₂ emissions. Exposure to elevated concentrations of ammonia can cause irritation of the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. NH₃ is currently monitored at the Bertha Ganter-Fort McKay and Patricia McInnes air monitoring stations.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

Elemental Carbon (EC), or “Black Carbon”, is the product of incomplete combustion of fuels which is mainly present in the ultrafine fraction of particulate matter (PM0.1). EC is a major component of diesel soot, which has been declared as a substance that can cause cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2012). Organic Carbon (OC) is carbon bound in organic compounds which are directly emitted into the air, but also formed from organic precursor gases emitted from anthropogenic and natural sources (the latter relating primarily to terrestrial vegetation). Particles containing OC may also pose a significant risk to human health (Mauderly and Chow, 2008).

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring

CO₂ is a natural component of the air we breath. It is a colorless, odourless gas produced by respiration of plants and animals, and through combustion of fossil fuels. Ambient carbon dioxide is generally not a human health concern and is monitored in the network to help differentiate between origins of emissions such as forest fires and anthropogenic sources.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring

CO is formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon in fossil fuels. Transportation and vehicle emissions are the major source of carbon monoxide with elevated concentrations during the morning and evening rush hours. Breathing carbon monoxide decreases the amount of oxygen carried by the blood stream.

Collection Method: Time-Integrated Monitoring

Wet deposition samples are collected using ion exchange resins (IERs) as part of the WBEA’s Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program to measure nutrient deposition and to estimate atmospheric deposition inputs to forest ecosystems. Each sample is analyzed for major ions. The program focuses on sulphur and nitrogen ions, including nitrogen as ammonium (NH₄-N), nitrogen as nitrate (NO₃-N), and sulphur as sulphate (SO₄-S), as well as base cations including, calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and phosphorous (P).

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring

Methane (CH₄) is the most abundant hydrocarbon on earth, while reactive non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) can react with other compounds in atmosphere to form ozone. Total hydrocarbons (THC) are the combined concentrations on both methane and non-methane hydrocarbons. Some stations in the WBEA network only measure THCs, while certain stations measure CH₄, NMHC, and THC. Many hydrocarbons are emitted from natural sources, while others can come from industrial and vehicular emissions. The natural background level of THC, composed mainly of CH₄, is generally around 1.8 ppm.

Collection Method: Time-Integrated Monitoring

NO₂ reacts with the hydroxyl (OH) radical to form HNO₃ which in turn deposits rapidly or reacts with ammonia to form fine particulate ammonium nitrate.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

NO₂ is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent, irritating odour that is produced by combustion of fossil fuels. It plays a major role in atmospheric photo-chemical reactions, ground level ozone formation and destruction, and can also interact with water to form acid rain.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring

NOx are poisonous gases derived from nitrogen and oxygen combustion under high pressure and temperatures. NOx is composed of nitric oxide (NO), and a smaller percentage of more poisonous nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). There are other compounds in the family of oxides of nitrogen but typically only in trace amounts. NO and NO₂ are generally considered to make up NOx.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

O₃ at ground-level is not emitted directly into the air but formed by chemical reactions of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), from vehicular and industrial emissions. At high concentrations, breathing ozone can affect respiratory function, and cause coughing, throat irritation, and airway inflammation. Children, the elderly, and people with asthma are the most susceptible. Ozone can affect sensitive vegetation, by slowing plant growth and making them more susceptible to disease.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

Particulate matter consists of a mixture of solid particles and aerosols found in the air. PM₁₀ is the fraction of total particulate that are 10 µm (microns) in diameter or less.

The continuous analyzer measures the concentration of particulate matter in the air at any given time. A time-integrated PM10 sample is a measure of dry deposition and is analyzed for major ions similar to the wet deposition samples, and metals that make up the particulate matter in the air.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

Particulate matter consists of a mixture of solid particles and aerosols found in the air. PM _2.5 is the fraction of total particulate that are 2.5 µm (microns) in diameter or less, and is produced mainly by combustion processes, including forest fires.

Typically, exceedances of the PM2.5 AAAQO in the WBEA network are a result of forest fires. Fine particles are composed primarily of sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, inorganic and organic carbon compounds, and heavy metals. PM _2.5 poses a health risk as the particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs.

The continuous analyzer measures the concentration of particulate matter in the air at any given time. A time-integrated PM _2.5 sample is a measure of dry deposition and is analyzed for major ions similar to the wet deposition samples, and metals that make up the particulate matter in the air.

Collection Method: Time-Integrated Monitoring

PAHs are a type of hydrocarbon – an organic compound containing carbon and hydrogen – that are produced from natural sources, such as the incomplete combustion of organic matter, and can be found in oil sand deposits. There are more than 100 different PAHs – some of which can be detrimental to human health and the environment.

In the WBEA’s time-integrated sampling program, PAHs are collected on a sample media for a 24-hour period, every six days. These samples are collected and sent to the lab where they are analyzed to determine what PAHs were present in the air.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring | Time-Integrated Monitoring

SO₂ is produced from the combustion of sulphur-containing fossil fuels. Sulphur dioxide in the air at high concentrations can make breathing difficult, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with asthma. SO₂ reacts in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and acidic aerosols, which contribute to acid deposition and acid rain.

Collection Method: Continuous Monitoring

H₂S is a colourless gas with a rotten egg odour. It is produced through industrial processes. The term “Total Reduced Sulphurs” covers a larger group of sulphur-containing compounds, including H₂S, carbonyl sulphide, mercaptans, etc. These substances have the potential to cause odours in the region. In the WBEA airshed most industrial TRS and H2S emissions are from upgraders and tailings ponds, though there is a natural background ambient air concentration of the reduced sulphur compound carbonyl sulphide of approximately 0.5 ppb.

Collection Method: Time-Integrated Monitoring

VOCs are a group of chemical species that contain carbon, and react easily to become a gas. They may contain additional elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, sulphur, or nitrogen. VOCs are numerous, and come from both natural and human sources, and certain VOCs may contribute to ozone formation, odours, and long term health-effects.

In the WBEA’s time-integrated sampling program, an air sample is collected in a stainless-steel canister for a 24-hour period, every six days. These samples are then sent to the lab where they are analyzed to determine what VOCs were present in the air.