New York State Banner
D E C banner
D E C banner

Volatile Organic Compounds Monitoring

Ambient Air Monitoring Report for Volatile Organic Compounds

Full data sets (on CD-ROM) are available on written request to:

Bureau Director
Bureau of Air Quality Surveillance
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3256

Call 518-402-8508 for further information.

Table of Contents
Preface
Section 1 Network Description
Section 2 Sample Collection
Section 3 Laboratory Analysis
Section 4 Data Handling
Section 5 Data Validation
Section 6 Data Summaries
Section 7 Quality Assurance Report
Appendix A Field and Lab Equipment
Appendix B Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix C Methods Comparison Report on
Adsorbent Tubes and Canisters

Preface

The NY ambient air toxics monitoring program was first established in 1985 as part of the Governor's Air Monitoring Modernization Capital Budget Program. This monitoring network measures Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) across the State. The initial development of the network and analytical capabilities was part of a joint Staten Island/New Jersey Urban Air Toxics Assessment Project (SI/NJ Study) coordinated with USEPA Region II from 1987 through 1989. The network expanded in 1990 to a statewide network.

The goal is to monitor air quality related to toxics in the State's urban, industrial, residential, and rural areas. This network and report starts the development of a long-term toxics air quality database for New York State. The database will be used to define, attain, and preserve good air quality in New York State. The data defines actual air quality impacts of the VOCs. The data is used in the design and management of New York's air quality, including risk assessment, modeling, planning and trend analysis.

The database is also useful in tracking VOC concentrations in relation to the control and photochemical formation of ozone. This network monitored seventeen VOC's from 1990 to 1994 and nineteen VOC's from 1995 to 1998 whereas, the enhanced ozone monitoring program required under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 monitors sixty compounds. The only overlap of targets is the aromatic compounds of benzene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene.

A formal quality assurance program is in place to define the data quality of this new database. The program includes precision checking of measurements by collecting and analyzing duplicate samples. The accuracy and validity of the data is maintained by the use of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable calibration standards and comparison of results to other independent toxics monitoring methodologies. Quality assurance results are also a part of this report.

More about Volatile Organic Compounds Monitoring:

  • Page applies to all NYS regions
  • Contact for this Page:
  • NYSDEC
    Division of Air Resources
    625 Broadway
    Albany NY 12233-3256
    518-402-8508
    email us