Improvements to the TAGA System for Ambient Air Monitoring

摘要

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Environmental Response Team (U.S.EPAERT) provides technical assistance for oil spills, hazardous waste activities and accidental chemical releases. Most of the responses have involved air monitoring to determine potential exposures to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Lockheed Martin has been awarded the Response Engineering and Analytical Contract (REAC) to provide the technical services, including air monitoring. To determine the potential exposures to HAPs, a variety of sampling and monitoring techniques are used, in a systematic approach, including a Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) system. ERT/REAC has the older 6000 unit and two new IIe units. To prepare the new IIe’s for field use and keep the existing 6000 unit operational, a number of modifications have been made. This paper addresses improvements that have been made to the TAGA system to provide faster calibration, enhanced sensitivity, ease of operation, and more efficient data output. The improvements include changes to the system hardware as well as the operating software. Examples of these improvements include: modifications to the LPCI source, changes in the calibration equipment, faster and more inclusive automated calibration, changes in the calculation of background, and a faster shutdown process. In addition, the improved sensitivity of the new TAGA IIe systems will be presented.