The weather conditions monitored at our continuous stations locations can include some or all of the following parameters:
- Wind speed (WS) at various heights, such as 10 metres or 15 metres. For example, the wind speed at a height of 15 metres would be reported as “15M WS Avg”.
- Wind direction (WD) at various heights, such as 10 metres or 15 metres. For example, a reading of “15M WD Avg 143 Deg” means that at a height of 15 metres, the prevailing wind has been from 143 degrees.
- Temperature at various heights and inside the air monitoring stations. Some stations also measure the change in temperature from one height to another (Delta Temp).
- Relative Humidity,
- Barometric Pressure, and
- Rainfall.
The contaminants we measure in ambient air are as follows (along with information about their sources and provincial guidelines):
Ammonia (NH3)
Ammonia is a colourless gas with the well-known pungent odour found in ammonia-containing household cleaners. Ammonia is produced both by natural sources, such as the decay of plant material and animal waste, and human sources. In Alberta, the major human-related sources of ammonia are:
- fertilizer production facilities,
- agricultural application activities, and
- commercial feedlots.
Alberta’s one-hour guideline for ammonia is 2.0 parts per million (ppm).
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas formed when carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, oil, and wood burn with an insufficient supply of oxygen. Motor vehicles are the major emission source of carbon monoxide and forest fires are also an important natural source. Minor sources include:
- fireplaces,
- industry,
- aircraft, and
- natural gas combustion.
Alberta’s one-hour guideline for carbon monoxide is 13 parts per million (ppm) average concentration.
Ethylene (C2H4)
Ethylene is a flammable, colorless gas. It is industrially produced from ethane and is used to make other compounds. Ethylene also occurs as a natural product emitted by fruits, flowers and other vegetation. Small amounts are found in volcanic emissions and natural gas. It is also emitted when organic matter such as cigarettes are burned, and when fossil fuels are incompletely burned. Alberta's one hour average ambient air quality guideline is 1.044 parts per million.
Ground-Level Ozone (O3)
Reactive hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen combine in the presence of sunlight to form ozone (O3), which is a bluish gas, whose pungent odour can be smelled only at very high concentrations. In the stratosphere ozone prevents most of the sun’s harmful UV-B radiation from reaching the earth’s surface, but at ground level, ozone is a major component of smog. Natural processes can also greatly influence ground-level ozone concentrations. Alberta’s guideline for one-hour ozone concentrations is 0.082 parts per million (ppm).
For more information,click here to check out the Fort Air Partnership's fact sheet on Ozone.
Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from human-related sources come from:
- oil and gas operations,
- automobiles, and
- solvents.
Total Hydrocarbons (THC)
Total hydrocarbons are simply the sum of methane and reactive hydrocarbons (other parameters directly monitored). Alberta does not have ambient air quality guidelines for hydrocarbons.
Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)
Hydrogen sulphide is a colourless gas with a rotten egg odour. Its presence in natural gas makes the gas "sour." Some sources of hydrogen sulphide include:
- natural gas processing plants,
- petroleum refining, and
- animal feedlots.
Alberta's one-hour guideline for hydrogen sulphide is 0.010 parts per million (ppm).
Methane (CH4)
Methane is a colorless, odourless gas. It is the simplest alkane and the main constituent of natural gas. It is used as a fuel.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Nitrogen oxides are produced during the burning of natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline. Nitrogen oxides are commonly found at higher concentrations in urban locations because of vehicle exhaust emissions. However, they are also detectable in rural areas as a result of emissions from:
- bacterial processes,
- lightning,
- forest fires,
- power plants,
- oil and gas processing facilities, and
- other industrial sources.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)can be identified by its reddish-brown colour and pungent odour. Alberta’s one-hour guideline for nitrogen dioxide is 0.210 parts per million (ppm).
Particulates
Inhalable Particulates (PM10)
Inhalable particulates, often referred to as PM10, are particulate matter less than 10 micrometres in diameter that can be inhaled into the nose and throat. Sources of inhalable particulates include:
- soil dust,
- road dust,
- agricultural dust (e.g., harvest),
- smoke from forest fires and recreational wood burning,
- vehicle exhaust emissions, and
- industrial emissions.
Respirable Particulates (PM2.5)
Respirable particulates, or PM2.5, are particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. They are small enough to penetrate into the lungs. Respirable particulates originate in the atmosphere because of condensation and combustion from sources such as:
- vehicle exhaust emissions,
- industrial emissions, and
- wood burning.
The Canada-wide Standard (CWS) benchmark concentration for 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations is 30 micrograms of particulate per cubic metre of air (µg/m3). Achievement of the Canada Wide Standard is determined by taking the 98th percentile annually, and averaging it over three consecutive years
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
Sulphur dioxide is a colourless gas with an irritating odour and taste. Major sources of sulphur dioxide are:
- natural gas processing plants,
- oil sands plants,
- petroleum refineries, and
- coal-powered electric power generation facilities.
Alberta’s one-hour guideline for sulphur dioxide is 0.170 parts per million (ppm).
Vinyl chloride monomer (C2H3Cl)
Vinly chloride monomer is a flammable, colorless gas used mainly for the manufacture of polyvinly chloride (PVC) plastics and resins, and vinyl chloride copolymers. It is industrially produced from ethylene and chlorine. A monomer is a simple compound from which polymers are made. The Alberta ambient one-hour average air quality guideline for vinyl chloride monomer is .051 ppmv.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
An organic compound is a carbon-based molecule that may be bonded to other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, fluorine and/or bromine. Many natural and man-made organic compounds exist in the atmosphere. Volatile organic compounds are chemicals that easily form vapors under normal pressures and temperatures. Once emitted into the atmosphere, volatile organic compounds can present hazardous effects on plants, animals and humans. They can react photo-chemically - in the presence of sunlight - to produce additional pollutants.
Volatile Organic Compounds are produced by a variety of natural and human sources, with the major human source in urban areas being vehicle exhaust emissions. Additional human sources of volatile organic compounds are gasoline, petroleum and chemical industries, dry cleaning, fireplaces, natural gas combustion, and aircraft. Emissions from natural sources include forests, grasslands and swamps.
Why monitor volatile organic compounds?
While there has been no historical information to indicate that volatile organic compound concentrations in Fort Saskatchewan are unacceptable, our region is home to a large concentration of chemical industry. This monitoring program will provide all of us with valuable information about the nature and behavior of these air pollutants in an industrial setting. This information can then be used by governments, industry and residents to better manage and improve regional air quality, and to protect our environment and public health.
Monitoring volatile organic compounds is important because in sunlight they can react with other substances to form ozone and photochemical smog and because they can negatively affect humans, animals or vegetation, depending on their concentrations and the duration of exposure to them. Some individual volatile organic compounds are known or suspected of having direct toxic effects on humans and the environment and have been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) (for more information visit Environment Canada)
The Environment Canada VOC Monitoring Program
24-hour air samples were taken every six days at six locations in the airshed zone. Analysis of the samples gives levels of 150 different volatile organic compounds.
Monthly results have been posted under the What’s New section of the webpage, and the full results will be analyzed and a final report will be posted before the end of 2005.
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