FW: [epanews] News Release: EPA Releases Air Sampling Data Collected by Mobile Labs

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FYI...

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News for Release: Friday, September 16, 2005

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA Releases Air Sampling Data Collected by Mobile Labs

Contact: Eryn Witcher, / witcher.eryn@...

(Washington, D.C. -- September 16, 2005) EPA collected air screening

samples from multiple locations across the New Orleans metropolitan area

on September 12 & 13. The samples were analyzed for volatile priority

pollutants such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, which are commonly

found in gasoline, as well as other industrial solvents. EPA used two

of its Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) buses. The TAGA is a

self-contained mobile laboratory capable of continuous, real-time

sampling and analysis.

It can detect chemicals in the low parts per billion levels of outdoor

air or emissions from various environmental sources. TAGA monitoring

results are only used for screening and represent the status of the air

at the time of sampling. These screening data were evaluated against

the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) air

short-term health standards in order to provide an initial assessment of

air quality.

The screening results indicated that chemical concentrations in most

areas are below ATSDR health standards of concern. The low level of

volatile pollutants is not surprising as contaminants may be bound to

the sediment. Monitoring data directly around the Oil spill

revealed some slightly elevated levels of benzene and toluene that are

associated with the petroleum release. Long-term exposure (a year or

longer) at the levels measured would be required for health effects to

be of concern.

These initial results represent the beginning of extensive sampling

efforts and do not represent all air conditions throughout the area. As

this is a dynamic situation, general conclusions should not be made

regarding air safety based on results from this snapshot of data. For

sampling information go to:

http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/air/taga.html .

R166

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