ABSTRACT
This chapter describes ambient air sampling, air quality monitoring systems, and microprocessor-based portable ambient air analyzers. All substances in ambient air exist as particulate matter, gases, or vapors. The use of solid absorbents is not widely practiced in ambient air sampling because the quantity of absorbed gases is usually determined by gravimetric means. However, in ambient air sampling, they are not used because their collection efficiency is low and unpredictable for the fine particles present in ambient air. Many options are available for the type of air quality information which can be collected, and the cost of air quality monitoring systems varies greatly. Some air quality monitoring systems determine the impact of a single source or a concentrated group of sources of emissions on the surrounding area. Microprocessor-controlled spectrometers are available to measure concentrations of a variety of gases and vapors in ambient air.
