A Canadian scientist discusses his country's environmental monitoring programs (by parameter and medium), points out their strengths and weaknesses, and indicates some possible directions for future efforts in the field of environmental monitoring at both the national and international level. (BT)

This discussion gives a general picture of the instrumentation available or being developed for measuring the four major categories of water pollutants: metals, nutrients, pesticides and oxygen demand. The instruments are classified as follows: manually operated laboratory analyzers, automated laboratory instrumentation, manual field monitors, and…

A description is given of work undertaken to develop a simple, specific, and reliable method for ozone. Reactions of ozone with several 1-alkenes were studied at room temperature (25C). Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxy phenol), when reacted with ozone, was found to produce relatively large amounts of formaldehyde as compared to other 1-alkenes tested.…

Total mercury in ambient air can be collected in iodine monochloride, but the subsequent analysis is relatively complex and tedious, and contamination from reagents and containers is a problem. A sliver wool collector, preceded by a catalytic pyrolysis furnace, gives good recovery of mercury and simplifies the analytical step. An instrumental…

New ways of obtaining environmental data are being developed to meet the demand for comprehensive, accurate, and timely information on the environment. This article examines four developments that are transforming the entire field of environmental measurement: spectroscopy; satellite transmission of environmental data; remote sensing; and…

The current manual NO (x) sampling and analysis method was evaluated. Improved time-integrated sampling and rapid analysis methods were developed. In the new method, the sample gas is drawn through a heated bed of uniquely active, crystalline, Pb02 where NO (x) is quantitatively absorbed. Nitrate ion is later extracted with water and the…

A prototype model low level carbon monoxide analyzer was developed using fluorescent cell and negative chopping techniques to achieve a device superior to state of art NDIR (Nondispersive infrared) analyzers in stability and cross-sensitivity to other gaseous species. It is clear that this type of analyzer has that capacity. The prototype…

The well known Saltzman method for oxides of nitrogen is intended for the determination of these constituents in the ambient atmosphere in the range of a few parts per billion to about 5ppm. However, when sulfur dioxide is present in the gas to be sampled and/or the concentration range of the oxides of nitrogen is from five to several thousand…