Collecting data on metal halides from balloons

[Ed Borden]

Hello all,

I am from Pachube (real-time data web service, pachube.com) and part
of the AirQualityEgg project (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/
edborden/air-quality-egg). We are working with Liz and Shannon at the
EcoHackNYC event coming up in about a week and are going to be putting
our sensor system up on the balloon mapping kits to gather data from a
range of heights.

As has been explained to me (I am new to this), part of the
application of this experiment will be to try to test for a specific
pollutants (metal halides) contained in the air coming from factories/
industry.

Right now, we can get a general sense of the amount of dust/particles
in the air using an IR sensor. To actually do analysis, in real-time,
on a balloon, to try to figure out WHAT those particles are is beyond
me. So, my current idea is that maybe we can gather some of those
particulates, maybe in a filter of some kind, then do a chemical-based
manual test on the ground. That should tell us SOMETHING, I think.

Any input whatsoever would be great.

-@edborden

[Liz Barry]

It would be great to hear from folks with a mass spec, or anyone who has captured air samples in the field (or above the field) for lab testing

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@lizbarry

[Adam Griffith]

This is a great string.  As an undergrad, I did vacuum filtration of lead dust.  We captured the lead dust in filter paper and then had to dissolve the paper in a few types of acid with the captured particulates to determine lead presence.  I think we used GC-MS for separation and then detection.  As for doing this in the field in real time, I have no clue.  We followed the processes outlined in some large technical manual.  National Standards of some kind, maybe EPA.  Not sure.   I can e-mail my professor and get back to you, if you want.  Just let me know.

Adam

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Adam Griffith
Director of Science and Coastal Environments
publiclaboratory.org
828.321.2326

[Liz Barry]

Adam, 

It would be great if you had a chance to follow up with your professor. If we could understand the process a bit better, maybe we can figure out a DIY version. 

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[Jeffrey Warren]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-04-19/smelting-lead-contamination-government-failure/54399578/1

This is an amazing article about the EPA's failure to report lead contamination up to 5x the federal limit around more than 400 former smelting operations around the country -- since they don't exist anymore, nobody is there to pay for the cleanup, but in addition it seems like the reports themselves got stuck in the bureaucracy.

USA Today spent a year doing soil tests, which is awesome. If residents could do these themselves for cheap, and share the results, that would be super. I know Massachusetts offers discounted soil testing but  many people don't take advantage of it. Making a home test might make things more immediate, the results more legible and trustworthy, etc. 

jeff

[Adam Griffith]

email sent to Dr. Jack Steehler of Roanoke College.

[Adam Griffith]

Here is a thorough response from the director of research at my alma mater:

Adam-

 

Good to hear from you!  Glad to hear you are continuing your civic involvements.  As I recall that was an interest for you from your time here at RC.

 

In Environmental Analytical, we used simplified and adapted methods that fit in the time space of our course.   Those aren’t adequate for ambient modeling in real life.  For example, our particulate monitoring captured big and small particles.  Legal standards focus on the small particles that can enter the lungs, which requires different collection methods.

 

EPA is certainly the gold standard for officially approved methods (the results of which would be accepted outside of a local group).

 

Take a look at their ambient air monitoring method site: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/methods.html

 

There is a separate site for emissions monitoring:  http://www.epa.gov/ttn/emc/tmethods.html

 

Of course you can find other compilations. 

 

ASTM publishes standard methods, but they are expensive:  http://www.astm.org/search/standards-search.html?query=air&reskin=true#51043592

 

You can find books on Amazon, too.

 

For Air, the one I’ve used is shown here, but is outdated (1988!).  I didn’t see a similar newer compilation.  Use EPA.

Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis [Hardcover]

James P. Lodge (Editor)

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For water/wastewater analysis the absolute gold standard is:

Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater 2012 (Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater) [Hardcover]

Eugene W. Rice (Editor), Rodger B. Baird (Editor), Andrew D. Eaton (Editor), Lenore S. Clesceri (Editor)

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Best wishes!

Jack