NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
B.M.C.C. Page 6
Dust & VOC Levels November 20, 2001
APPENDIX A: AIR MONITORING METHODS AND INSTRUMENTATION
1. Dust Trak Aerosol Monitor
The TSI Model 8520 Dust Trak Aerosol Monitor is a laser photometer, which uses light
scattering technology to determine mass concentration. The sensing mechanism
consists of a laser diode directed at the aerosol stream. The laser diode has a
wavelength of 780 nanometers (nm) which limits the smallest detectable particle to
about 0.1 pm. Scattered light is collected with optics and photodetector at 90° to the
a
light beam. The intensity of the scattered light is a function of the particle mass
concentration, and the results are expressed in units of mass per volume (mg/m3). The
instrument has a sample flowrate of 1.7 Umin. Particle measurements can be taken at
1.0, 2.5, 4.0, and 10.0 pm diameters. Inlet conditioners (impactors) are used to limit the
upper size particle ranges to 1.0 and 2.5 pm. Additionally, a 10-millimeter cyclone is
used for respirable sampling with a particle size cut-off at 4 pm (internationally
accepted as the 50% cut-off size for respirable aerosol mass). The mass concentration
range for the instrument is 0.001 to 100 mg/m3; the particle size range is 0.1 to 10 pm.
2. Photo Ionization Detector
The Mini-RAE 2000 Photo Ionization Detector (PID) is used for the measurement of
most VOCs, down to a level of 0.1 ppm, with an accuracy of +/- 2%. The sensor
consists of a sealed UV light source that emits photons which are energetic enough to
ionize many trace species (particularly organics) but do not ionize the major
components of air such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or
water.
The field created on an electrode will drive any ions formed by adsorption of the UV
light to the collector electrode where the current (proportional to concentration) is
measured. Response time for this direct reading instrument is under 5 seconds. The
instrument was calibrated on site using a zero gas calibration setup (using a charcoal
filter to exclude any organic gas) and a known concentration of 100 ppm isobutylene.
The findings presented in this report were valid during the times the survey
was conducted and within the scope of TBE's protocol as discussed
above.
NYC-WTC 000106403
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