Development of low cost method for the monitoring of ambient air quality
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Date
2002
Authors
Dharmasena, N. P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
Standard air pollution monitoring techniques utilize large, heavy and expensive instruments that are not easily adopted for micro environmental monitoring. Use of low cost wet-chemical methods for the monitoring of ambient air quality was explored in this study. Monitoring using passive and active sampling methodologies respectively for longer and shorter time duration were studied in detail and it was found that those methodologies are very much dependable and yield a high degree of accuracy.
Special windshield and an "Ogawa" type sampler were designed to improve the quality of results, and handling. The same methodology was adopted for the monitoring of ambient air quality at ten locations in Colombo, weekly and monthly basis. Results were also crosschecked with those of Automated Monitoring System at Fort Railway Station premises, Colombo. Monitoring results indicated that the Fort as the maximum polluted site with a maximum monthly average of 0.024 ppm and a maximum weekly average of 0.026 ppm.The Central Environmental Authority premises at Battaramulla indicated the minimum monthly average of 0.008 ppm and the minimum weekly average of 0.009 ppm during the above month period.
In this study use of‘active sampling for the monitoring of NOz, NO and SO, for shorter time durations (i.e. less than 8 hrs.) was also studied to obtain relatively high degree of precision and accuracy.
Description
Keywords
Environmental sciences , Pollution , Monitoring techniques