High-quality, clean air is vital to life. Dirty and polluted air can cause serious harm to our health and environment. To ensure we are breathing in the healthiest air possible, several sources monitor air quality closely – and within the last ten years, these sources have discovered that air quality has been declining.
Air Quality Improvement Trends
Each year, the American Lung Association (ALA) releases a “State of the Air” report that analyzes air quality across the United States. The 2018 State of the Air report, which you can read here, reveals that ozone pollution is worsening significantly. The changing climate is making it more difficult to protect air quality, and many cities across the United States have revealed unhealthy smog levels.
Between 2014 to 2016, more than 133.9 million people suffered from exposure to unhealthy air. The country is making strides in the reduction of year-round particle pollution with cleaner vehicles and engines on the roads – however, 41% of people in the United States live in places with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution. Air pollution monitoring can help people keep track of their air quality in this changing world.
What Is Gas Chromatography?
To monitor air pollution, experts use a technique known as gas chromatography. This is one of the most widely used analytical methods in chemistry thanks to its advanced abilities to isolate and detect individual chemical compounds and pollutants in the air. When you use a gas chromatograph, you take a sample of air in a gaseous or vapor form. The sample passes through or over a second compound, usually a carrier gas like helium or nitrogen, in a heated coil.
You then measure how long it takes for the sample to react with the carrier gas, a process known as elution. This length of time is known as the retention time – different retention times indicate the nature of the compounds in the sample. With gas chromatography, you can determine what types of pollutants are in the air sample.
CCM Flow Monitors and Air Pollution Testing
If you are looking for an accurate tool for your gas chromatography needs, choose ChemTec’s CCM flow monitors. These monitors are ideal in situations where you are testing air pollutants with low flow rates and abnormal operating conditions.
These monitors use a magnetic piston that rests at the flow tube inlet for optimal convenience. When you place gas or liquid into the monitor, the position of the piston changes with a built-in adjustable reed switch. CCM flow monitors can handle air flow rates from 10 to 16000 SCCM, making it versatile for all of your air pollution testing needs.
Contact ChemTec today to learn more about our CCM flow monitors and other pollution testing products.
