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Definition
Sampling Site Selection
Parameters
Methods of Sampling
Methods of Analyses
Standards/Guideline Values

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 Ambient Air Quality – the general amount of pollution
present in a broad area; and refers to the atmosphere’s
average purity as distinguished from discharge
measurements taken at the source of pollution

 NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards

 NAAQGCP – National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines for

Criteria Pollutants

 NPCC – National Pollution Control Commission

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Where to measure AAQS?
(Rule XXVI, Section 1, DAO 2000-81)
• Sampling shall be done at the location of highest expected
concentration.

• Sampling shall be done at an elevation of at least two (2) meters

above the ground level, and shall be conducted either at the property
line or at a downwind distance of 5 to 20 times the stack height
whichever is more stringent.

• The Bureau may approve the adoption of a different procedure in the

choice of location of the monitoring equipment depending upon the
physical surrounding and other factors in the area where the sampling
is to be conducted.

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 NAAQS/NAAQGCP
Total Suspended Particulates Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)
(TSP)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Lead (Pb)
Particulate Matter at 10µ (PM10) Phenols (C6H5OH)
Ammonia (NH3) Formaldehyde (CH2O)
Carbon Disulfide (CS2) Ozone (O3)
Chlorine and Chlorine Compounds Carbon Monoxide (CO)
(Cl2)

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 Other Parameters
Noise Hydrocarbons
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Other metals
Total Volatile Organic Compounds Asbestos
(TVOC)

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TSP, Metals
Filtration Method - Ambient air is drawn through a
glass fiber filter over a period of time. Particles having
a diameter of 20-50 µm are collected ordinarily.

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Sampling Equipment

High Volume Sampler

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PM10
 Filtration Method - Ambient air, with particle size less
than 10µm is entered in a high volume sampler 10µ
inlet by means of vacuum system. The air passes to
venturi type casing resulting to a flow rate of
approximately 40 cubic feet per minute.

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Sampling Equipment

High Volume Sampler PM10 Head

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Gases
 Liquid Absorption Method - A known volume of air is
sampled with a wet-chemical system where a constant
volume of air sample passes through a suitable reagent
(absorbing reagent) that is reactive to the specific
pollutant desired. As the air sample passes through the
bubbler rack, the air diffuses forming air bubbles and
slowly reacts to the chemical reagent forming a
complex ion.

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Sampling Equipment

Mini pump

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Noise
The lowest and highest noise levels monitored are
manually recorded. The multiple sounds reading for a
period of 15 minutes each station is recorded and
summarized by getting its mean. The result of this
gives the equivalent noise level.

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Sampling Equipment

Noise Level Meter

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CO, CO2, TVOC
Direct read out analyzers are the equipment that are
used to determine the concentration of CO, CO2 and
TVOC. The ambient air is drawn using grab sampling
method for at least 10 minutes period per sampling. At
least three trials are performed to ensure that the
results are properly monitored.

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Sampling Equipment

CO Analyzer CO2 Analyzer

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Sampling Equipment

TVOC Analyzer

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Other Sampling Equipment
Velocity, Temperature, Pressure

Anemometer Barometer
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Other Sampling Equipment

Directional Compass GPS

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Other Sampling Equipment

Silco Canister
(for low level VOC testing)

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Other Sampling Equipment/Media

Asbestos Filter
Cassette

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Standard Parameters
ANALYSIS
PARAMETER TEST REFERENCE ANALYSIS METHOD
INSTRUMENT
USEPA 40 CFR part
Total Suspended 50 Appendix B Gravimetric
Analytical Balance
Particulates (TSP) MASA 3rd ed., Method Method
501
USEPA 40 CFR part
Ultra Violet – Visible
50 Appendix A-2
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Pararosaniline Method Spectrophotometer
MASA 3rd ed., Method
(UV-VIS)
704A
USEPA 40 CFR part
Ultra Violet – Visible
Nitrogen Dioxide 50 Appendix F Griess-Saltzman
Spectrophotometer
(NO2) MASA 3rd ed., Method Method
(UV-VIS)
406

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Other NAAQS/NAAQGCP Parameters
ANALYSIS
PARAMETER TEST REFERENCE ANALYSIS METHOD
INSTRUMENT
USEPA 40 CFR part
Particulate Matter in
50 Appendix J Gravimetric
10 microns Analytical Balance
MASA 3rd ed., Method Method
(PM10)
501
Neutral Buffer
Photochemical USEPA 40 CFR part
Potassium Iodide Gas Chromatography
Oxidants as Ozone 50
Method
USEPA 40 CFR part
Atomic Absorption
50 Appendix G
Lead (Pb) Flame AAS Spectrophotometer
MASA 3rd ed., Method
(AAS)
303A

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Other NAAQS/NAAQGCP Parameters
ANALYSIS
PARAMETER TEST REFERENCE ANALYSIS METHOD
INSTRUMENT
Ultra Violet – Visible
MASA 3rd ed., Method
Ammonia (NH3) Indophenol Method Spectrophotometer (UV-
401
VIS)
Carbon Disulfide (CS2) NIOSH 1600 Gas Chromatography Gas Chromatography
Chlorine and Chlorine Ultra Violet – Visible
MASA 3rd ed., Method
Compounds expressed Methyl Orange Method Spectrophotometer (UV-
202
as Cl2 VIS)
Ultra Violet – Visible
MASA 3rd ed., Method
Formaldehyde Colorimetric Method Spectrophotometer (UV-
116
VIS)
Hydrogen Chloride
NIOSH 7903 Ion Chromatography Ion Chromatography
(HCl)

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Other NAAQS/NAAQGCP Parameters
ANALYSIS
PARAMETER TEST REFERENCE ANALYSIS METHOD
INSTRUMENT
Ultraviolet – Visible
Hydrogen Sulfide MASA 3rd ed., Method Methylene Blue Ion
(H2S) 701 Method Spectrophotometer
(UV-VIS)
MASA 3rd ed., Method
Phenols Gas Chromatography GC-MS
121

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NAAQS
Pollutants Standards (µg/Ncm) Averaging Time (min)
Ammonia 200 30
Carbon Disulfide 30 30
Chlorine and Chlorine 100 5
Compounds as Cl2
Formaldehyde 50 30
Hydrogen Chloride 200 30
Hydrogen Sulfide 100 30

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NAAQS
Pollutants Standards (µg/Ncm) Averaging Time (min)
Lead 20 30
Nitrogen Dioxide 375 30
260 60
Phenol 100 30
Sulfur Dioxide 470 30
340 60
TSP 300 60
PM10 200 60

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Noise (Rules and Regulations of the National Pollution Control Commission
(1978), Section 78, Table 1 – Environmental Quality Standards for Noise in
General Areas)—maximum allowable noise levels in general areas.
Category of Daytime Evening Nighttime Morning
Area 0900H – 1800H 1800H – 2200H 2200H – 0500H 0500H – 0900H
AA 50 45 40 45
A 55 50 45 50
B 65 60 55 60
C 70 65 60 65
D 75 70 65 70

Legend:
AA – A section or contiguous area which requires quietness
A – Residential Area
B – Commercial Area
C – Light Heavy Industrial Area
D – Heavy Industrial Area

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“Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot
be eaten.”

― Cree Indian Prophecy

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