Ambient Air Monitoring for Sulfur Compounds

Forrest, Joseph; Newman, L.

doi:10.1080/00022470.1973.10469838

Cited by 23 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…These data were not specifically selected as worst examples to illustrate such uncertainties, and many more examples of sampling deficiencies can be found in reference 14 and other published literature. 15 EPA has acknowledged that "Comparability among SO 2 measurement methods has not been rigorously substantiated" Since the annual average is the mean of such uncertain 24 hr readings, by whatever measurement method, how much credence and concern should be given "excessive" annual averages of 112, 83, 84 and 113 Mg/m 3 reported in AQCR's 015, 043, 045, and 174, respectively, even though they exceeded slightly the primary standard of 80 (which has an adequate margin of safety)?…”

Section: Discussion Of Monitoring Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caw the Standardsb be Justified or Afforded?

Megonnell¹

1975

Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association

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Section: Discussion Of Monitoring Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caw the Standardsb be Justified or Afforded?

Megonnell¹

1975

Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association

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“…The analytical techniques for the measurement of ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide, suspended sulfates, and sulfuric acid are not comparable in terms of reliability or accuracy (30,31). Much information is available concerning ambient sulfur dioxide levels and the assay system is relatively well standardized and believed to be reasonably accurate.…”

Section: Summary Of Key Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the Health Effects of Sulfur Oxides

Rall¹

1974

Environmental Health Perspectives

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The pollution in the air is a complex mixture of chemical substances of varying toxicity of which the sulfur oxides are a principal component. Those components which pose the primary hazards to human health have not yet been fully identified, nor have their respective contributions to human disease been fully determined. Efficient and effective control strategies are dependent upon the identification and understanding of these toxic components. Ultimately, the goal of standard-setting should be the development of composite pollution indices rather than control of individual pollutants.Concentrations of SO2' in the ambient air twice the current standards are associated with adverse health effects. A consider'able body of evidence suggests that there may be discernible human health effects from exposure to concentrations approximating the current standards. There is therefore no basis for'relaxation of the present standards for sulffr oxides at this time. Since the scientific basis for this judgment is incomplete, further scientific'information will, be required either to validate the present standards or to justify alteration of these standards. and experimental or laboratory studies, including matters of agreement or disagreement among the findings produced by the various study approaches; (3) the variable susceptibility to adverse effects' of sulfur oxides among different population groups; (4) a quantification of health effects in relation to various levels of exposure; and (5) the relationship between various levels of sulfur oxide exposure and costs in terms of impaired health, including the costs of care and loss of productivity among those who are or may be adversely affected by exposure to sulfur oxides. Review of Health Effects of Sulfur OxidesThis study has examined the existing scientific information and answered, insofar as is possible, these important questions. It is clear that additional information on the health effects of sulfur oxides is urgently needed. A program of research studies designed to develop such information is therefore included. Summary of Available InformationThe chemical form of sulfur oxides in the ambient air which is associated' in epidemiological studies with morbidity and mortality has not yet been clearly identified. The sulfur-containing products which have been implicated include SO2, sulfuric acid, and inorganic sulfates. SO, gas is generated primarily by the process of burning fossil fuels containing sulfur. SO remains in the ambient air for 1-7 days, during which time it can be converted to sulfates and sulfuric acid by sunlight, photochemical oxidants, or by the catalytic effect of certain particulates in the air. These processes are complex and not quantitatively understood. SO in the ambient air therefore provides a reservoir from which the more toxic sulfates and sulfuric acid derive. On a nationwide basis, the average ambient air concentrations of SO2 have been decreasing in the last few years because fossil fuels with a lower sulfur content have been used. The co...

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“…2 However, their application to atmospheric particle samples is not straightforward since quantitative transfer from the collection medium and homogeneous dispersion in the analysis medium without contamination or chemical alteration is required. Analytical speciation of airborne sulfatecontaining particles is in a more primitive state of development and has heretofore been narrowly focused on development of a specific method for sulfuric acid.…”

Section: Brookhaven National Laboratorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…40 A similar method based on barium dye exchange with sulfate (Eq. 2) and Ba dye + SO 4 2~ ^ BaSO 4 + dye (2) colorimetric determination of the released dye (nitrochromeazo) has been devised by Hoffer and Kothny. 23 Excess barium dye complex in buffered acetonitrile is used and the decrease in the complex absorbance at 640 nm is measured directly vs. a reagent blank.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%