BOARD MEETING DATE: May 2, 2003
AGENDA NO. 31

Status Report on Environmental Justice Enhancement I-6- Development of Portable Monitors for Air Contaminants

SYNOPSIS:

In September 2002, the Board approved 23 enhancements to the Environmental Justice Program. Enhancement I-6 calls for the development of small, low-cost monitoring devices that can be readily deployed in residential neighborhoods and the establishment of a technical working group. After conferring with the working group, staff conducted an extensive review of portable monitoring technologies including those currently available, technologies proposed as part of the CARB Innovative Clean Air Technologies Program, and potential future technologies. This report contains proposed draft procedures for the deployment of currently available portable monitors for the Board’s consideration. In addition, a discussion of potential portable monitors that could be further developed and deployed in one to two years and on a longer term, development of more sophisticated portable monitors. Furthermore, staff is recommending the procurement of additional commercially available monitors and to conduct further research and evaluations of monitors for future deployment including the cost to conduct such studies.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 25, 2003, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Approve the release of operational instructions for collection devices as provided in Attachments 1, 2, and 3.
    
2. Appropriate $44,000 from the General Fund, Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities, to the FY 2002-03 Budget, Services & Supplies Major Object, in Science and Technology Advancement.
    
3. Approve the purchase of 20 additional vacuum canisters at a cost not to exceed $13,000.
    
4. Approve the purchase of 45 additional protective boxes for the glass plate settling sampling and 100 additional Tedlar bags at a total cost not to exceed $6,000.
    
5. Approve the purchase of up to 20 remote-triggering units to be deployed with the vacuum canisters at a cost not to exceed $25,000.
    
6. Receive and file report.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

In September 2002, the Board directed staff to evaluate the development of small, low-cost air monitoring devices that can be readily deployed in residential neighborhoods as part of the workplan to enhance the AQMD Environment Justice Program. The Board also called for the establishment of a technical Working Group to study the issue of neighborhood monitoring. In addition, the Board directed staff to bring recommendations by June 2003 relative to the types of monitors that could be readily deployed.

A Working Group was created which consisted of representatives from community groups, regulated industries and agencies, air quality agencies, and university research centers. The Working Group met in November 2002 and identified the following community concerns: air toxics, odors, diesel exhaust and other fine particles, and fallout. Community members emphasized the need for a screening tool that could be used to help investigate concerns. To meet the needs of sampling by residents, the optimal device should be rugged, stable, user-friendly, sensitive, inexpensive, low-power, and provide real-time results if possible.

Technology Review

After receiving input from the Working Group, staff conducted an extensive review of commercially available portable monitoring technologies, as well as technologies that are in the research and development stage. The review included information obtained from working group members, the internet, researchers and vendors, and a review of technologies proposed to CARB as part of their Innovative Clean Air Technologies (ICAT) Program, which is funding the development and commercialization of innovative ambient monitors. The technologies were divided into three types: those that could be applied immediately, those that could be applied in the near-term (within the next two years), and those that have promise for the future.

Available Monitors
Currently, the AQMD deploys several technologies that meet most of the criteria for community-based sampling such as sample canisters and Tedlar bags for toxics and odor sampling; and glass plates for fallout collection. Canisters require opening a valve to allow ambient air into the evacuated container, while Tedlar bags require flipping a switch to "on". (The sampler turns itself off). Both of these devices collect whole-air samples from the neighborhood for subsequent laboratory analysis. Glass plates need to be placed in a secure location for two or three days to ensure the collection of the nuisance particles in question. These particles are subsequently examined using a microscope to determine the nature of the fallout. Once a sample is collected, the resident notifies the AQMD staff for sample pickup.

Because these devices are relatively small, inexpensive and easy to use, they meet most of the needs for community-based sampling. Staff currently stocks a small inventory for immediate deployment. To facilitate community use of currently available devices, staff drafted a series of operating instructions. This report contains draft operating instructions on the use of these devices by the community for the Board’s review and consideration and is described further below.

Near-Term Available Monitors
Two technologies were identified that could be applied within the next two years. One technology would enhance existing canister sampling by adding a remotely-triggered valve, which can be activated by a telephone call. A series of previously sited canisters could sample upwind and downwind simultaneously as soon as a complaint is reported. This remotely-triggered sampler has been prototyped but is not expected to be commercially available for several months. The estimated cost is around $5,000 per unit. In discussions with the vendor, the vendor indicated that they could develop a single canister remote-triggering device at a cost of around $1,000 per unit. Staff will pursue evaluation of a loaner instrument to determine the feasibility of deploying the unit. In addition, staff will pursue with other manufacturers of remote triggering technologies to determine if such units could be deployed at much lower costs.

The vendor is in the process of developing a prototype single canister unit and is expected to have the unit available within the next few months. If the unit is demonstrated to be feasible to operate in the field, staff recommends purchasing up to 20 units for immediate deployment. Staff recommends that $25,000 be allocated from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities to cover the purchase cost for up to 20 units and any incidentals associated with the deployment of the units. Prior to actual purchase, staff will release a request for quotation to potential vendors to determine the lowest cost unit. Staff is requesting the Board’s approval to purchase additional units beyond the 20 units if there is a sufficient cost savings on a per unit basis. The total cost would remain at $25,000.

A second technology is a Jerome 631-X hand-held battery-powered hydrogen sulfide detector with an attached data logger. This monitoring device is commercially available and is sensitive down to 3 parts per billion, which is lower than the odor threshold, but has not been evaluated for public use. The monitor costs approximately $13,000. Staff will pursue evaluation of a loaner instrument to determine the feasibility of deploying such units. Consequently, if the unit is determined to be appropriate for deployment, staff will seek a lower cost for the unit.

Long-Term Monitor Development
Future technologies were identified, as derived from the ICAT proposals, vendor contacts, and available literature. Approximately 60 proposals were submitted to ICAT, and 40 additional instruments were identified through the internet, vendor contacts, etc. Most of the reviewed technologies do not address pollutants of concern, are too complicated, costly, not capable of measuring the concentration levels needed for ambient work, require additional electrical power, or are only in the conceptual stage of development. However, several technologies identified have at least passed the "proof-of-concept" stage and meet most of the requirements for community-based monitoring. These technologies are as follows:

Beta-Attenuation Monitor (BAM). The U.S. Forest Service and University of Southern California (USC) submitted a proposal to ICAT for real-time fine particulate matter measurement with accuracy that meets federal monitoring network requirements. Although the sampler can measure fine particles, it only addresses concerns about diesel emissions indirectly. The anticipated cost per unit is approximately $7,500.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Sensors. This monitor is based on two types of E-nose technologies: surface acoustic waves and chemical-specific polymers. SAW sensors may be useful in developing a "finger print" of ambient chemicals by using an array of polymers on a chip. The proposed miniaturized version has not yet been prototyped, but larger versions of SAW sensors are already in commercial use. Data transfer is proposed through wireless connectivity using a personal digital assistant (PDA). The estimated unit cost is $600-$1,000.

Miniaturized System for Particle Exposure Assessment (MSPEA). This unit is designed to provide real-time fine particulate matter measurements meeting federal requirements. The developers also propose to provide information on the kinds of carbon particles in the sample (diesel, gasoline combustion, wood smoke, etc.) by using ultraviolet (UV) absorption. Data is reported to a personal computer, although true portability will require a lower power data storage device. A larger-scale version has been prototyped. The expected monitor cost is approximately $500.

Pulse UV/IR. This technology proposes to measure particle size distribution and the presence of aromatics using a dual-beam UV light. Data will be stored on an on-board memory. The unit has been prototyped, and the anticipated unit cost is $500.

Metal porphyrin badge. A badge laced with different metal porphyrins (i.e. pigments) can provide a "fingerprint" of organic compounds. Porphyrins are particularly useful for detecting odorous compounds. The system will be available for evaluation within several months but a unit price has not been estimated.

Staff recommends conducting further research and evaluations of monitors for future deployment including the cost to conduct such studies.

Proposal

Staff has drafted operating instructions for community members to use in deploying canisters, Tedlar bags, and glass plates. The draft operating instructions are provided in Attachments 1 through 3. The operating instructions are written in such a manner that the general public could follow and provide staff contact information for questions. Specifically, the operating instructions describe how to locate the sampling devices, how and when to start and stop sampling, and how to notify the AQMD when sampling is finished.

Staff is requesting the Board’s approval to release the operating instructions. Upon approval, staff will proceed to procure additional supplies and equipment for immediate deployment. Specifically, staff recommends purchasing 20 sampling canisters at a cost of approximately $600 (total cost $13,000). In addition, staff will proceed with the purchase of 45 additional protective boxes for glass plates, and an additional 100 Tedlar bags for the Tedlar bag sampler at a total cost of about $6,000. Staff is proposing that funding for the sampling canisters and the protective boxes be made available from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities.

In addition, staff is recommending upon Board’s approval of this report, to evaluate the remote-triggering units once they become commercially-available. Upon successful demonstration of the units, staff would proceed to procure up to 20 or more units for immediate deployment at a cost not to exceed $25,000 from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities

Resource Impacts

Additional funds beyond the current year fiscal budget would be needed to deploy the additional sampling devices. Staff is requesting the Board’s approval to allocate $44,000 from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities to cover the costs of the additional portable monitors. Specifically, the additional 20 sampling canisters will cost approximately $13,000. The costs to purchase 100 additional Tedlar bags and 45 protective boxes for the glass plate sampling are estimated to require approximately $6,000 Lastly, up to $25,000 is requested from the General Fund Designation for Enhanced Compliance Activities to cover the purchase cost of up to 20 remote-triggering units for the sampling canisters.

Depending on the number of sample collected in any given period, additional staff resources would be devoted to complete laboratory analysis.

Attachments

Attachment 1 – Collection of Fallout Materials
Attachment 2 – Ambient Air Canister Sampling
Attachment 3 – Ambient Air Tedlar Bag Sampling

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