Air monitoring of a coal tar cleanup using a mobile TAGA LPCI–MS/MS

Real-time detection of air toxics is becoming increasingly important in understanding the sources and constituents of air pollution. The detection of low levels of air contaminants requires reliable sampling and calibration techniques, as well as sophisticated analytical instrumentation. Recently, a new low pressure chemical ionization (LPCI) source was developed for ambient air monitoring of benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX) and gas-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in real-time. This ion source in conjunction with a triple quadrupole (Q1, Q2, Q3) mass spectrometer (trace atmospheric gas analyzer (TAGA IIe)) has been proven highly useful for measuring selected air pollutants. The ion chemistry under LPCI conditions involves charge transfer reactions yielding parent ions which are selected in the first quadrupole, Q1, dissociated in the second quadrupole, Q2, and the resultant daughter ions are then identified by the third quadrupole, Q3. Monitoring of specific parent/daughter (P/D) ion pairs is used to measure concentrations of BTX and selected PAH. The response of the TAGA IIe is characterized through multi-point calibration curves. Detection limits (DL) as low as 0.5 microg/m(3) for BTX and PAH were accomplished by optimizing various TAGA IIe operating parameters. This unique method was applied in November 1999 to monitor emissions released during the cleanup of a historical coal tar site in Kingston, Ontario. This information was used by local officials for enhancing abatement activities or in some cases temporarily halting the excavation when levels of air toxics were higher than allowable provincial guidelines.