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The formic (HNO3) and acetic acid (HCl) concentrations obtained in the Southern California atmosphere in 1986 yielded an average of 2.7 to 5.8 ppb and 2.9 to 4.2 ppb, respectively. The concentrations are far above the accepted level of HNO3 and HCL concentrations. Changes in HNCL and HCL concentrations, especially near the coast, depend upon the changes in atmospheric dilution potential which could happen if HNO3 and HCL were produced primarily by major sources of pollution such as motor vehicle traffic.

An eight-month long air monitoring experiment to measure atmospheric hydrofluoric acid in Southern California yielded a long-term average HF concentration between 0.13 microgram/cu.m to 0.22 microgram/cu.m. Of the nine air monotoring sites, two showed significant abrupt rises in HF concentrations, which was surmised to come from an accidental discharge of HF by industrial sources. HF concentration was collected through the tandem filter method.