Air Sampling Information-Kibby Lane Site.
Purpose: Air samples are collected using canister technology as part of the Southwest Ohio Air Quality
Agency’s Air Toxic Monitoring program. This protocol describes how that data will be processed and
communicated.
Sampling and Analysis Overview: Canisters are evacuated stainless steel spheres that collect ambient air
samples over a variable period of time, usually specified for 24 hours for the long-term averages used for
chronic risk assessment analysis. The sample is then sent to an independent lab for analyses of organic
compounds using the USEPA method TO14, a GC/MS technology. Meteorological weather instruments
located near the monitoring site captures wind speed and direction during the sampling time period.
Data Management: After a quality control check by the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency the results of the
data gathered during the monitoring run along with the meteorological data are posted on the Southwest Ohio
Air Quality web site. Ohio EPA Toxicologist periodically review this data to ensure no long term (chronic )
health based concerns are present.
Health Based Standards
The following are relevant health based standards for the three compounds of concern emitted from the
production of various plastics; Styrene, Acrylonitrile, and 1,3 Butadiene. The health based standards below
represent short term through long term (chronic) exposures.
Short term health based standard
One of the most commonly used air standards for potential acute (short term) exposures are the American
Industrial Hygiene Association Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs). This set of exposure
limits is divided into three categories representing exposure to increasing concentrations of specific chemicals:
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ERPG-1: The maximum concentration in air below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be
exposed for up to one hour without experiencing other than mild, short-term health effects or the detection of
a clearly defined objectionable odor.
ERPG-2: The maximum concentration in air below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be
exposed for up to one hour without experiencing or developing irreversible or other serious health effects or
symptoms.
ERPG-3: The maximum concentration in air below which it is believed nearly all individuals could be
exposed to up to one hour without experiencing or developing life-threatening health effects.
The table below lists several ERPG-1:
Chemical
ERPG-1 Standard (ppb)
Acrylonitrile
10,000
Styrene
50,000
1,3 Butadiene
10,000
Mid- term health based standard
The standard for work place exposure (8 hours per day/5 days week/over a lifetime) are the threshold limit
values (TLVs). This standard refers to airborne concentrations of chemical substances and represent
conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day, over a
working lifetime, without adverse health effects. TLVs are developed to protect workers who are normal,
healthy adults.
Chemical
TLVs (ppb)
Acrylonitrile
2,000
Styrene
20,000
1,3 Butadiene
2,000
Long term (chronic) health based standard
Newly installed air contaminant (pollutant) sources must comply with Ohio EPA’s Air Toxics Policy. The
purpose of this policy is to address long term or chronic exposure to hazardous air contaminants. The Air
Toxics Policy determines the maximum acceptable ground-level concentration (MAGLC) for long term
exposures. The MAGLC is determined for each pollutant by dividing the threshold limit value by a factor of 42.
Chemical
MAGLC (ppb)
Acrylonitrile
47.6
Styrene
476
1,3 Butadiene
47.6