Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Laboratory Frequently Asked Questions
What is the laboratory mission? - The mission of the WYDEQ Air Quality Laboratory is to support and assist the Air Quality Division's needs of sampling and analysis of the State's air resources in order to assure the quality of the air is within the regulatory requirements of its promulgated standards.
What types of samples does the Air Quality lab analyze? - The Division's air quality laboratory is no longer a full service laboratory capable of conducting routine air quality analyses and monitoring of the gaseous pollutants. The laboratory principally services the Division's routine analysis of the approximately 35 particulate sampling network station samples (PM-10 and TSP). The laboratory is also at times called upon by the Division to sample and/or conduct air analysis of gaseous and particulate matter on a project basis. These projects are decided upon by the Division's administrator. Sample types can be of particulate matter pollutant captured on filter material, and gaseous pollutants sampled by a variety of methods including, absorption in liquid phase, absorption on solid phase, and integrated or grab samples of air. The Division also conducts on-site continuous air pollutant analysis using various ambient air monitors.
Who collects the samples the Air Quality lab analyze? - The particulate samples are collected by on-site operators paid on a per sample basis. Samples collected on a project basis are collected by lab or field personnel of the Division.
How are samples sent to the Air Quality lab for analysis? - The particulate filter samples are sent through the general mail. All others can be sent by a variety of transportation means including bus, FedEx, and hand delivery by staff personnel.
What types of tests does the Air Quality lab perform? - Typically the tests can include: gross mass weighing of particulate mass filters, a variety of chemical analyses, and physical methods of analyses such as gas chromatography and gaseous monitoring.
Does the Air Quality lab analyze samples for the general public? - The laboratory does not conduct analyses for the general public.
Who uses the data the Air Quality lab generates and for what purpose? - The data are used almost exclusively by the staff of the Division to determine compliance with the Air Quality Regulations and Standards.
What is the Air Quality laboratory's source of funding? - The Air Quality lab derives operational funds through a combination of Federal and State General Funding.
How can I contact the Air Quality Laboratory?
The phone number of the laboratory is 307-777-7351.
How many samples does the Air Quality lab analyze per year? - The Air Quality lab analyzes approximately 500 particulate samples yearly. The number of gaseous pollutant samples analyzed yearly on a project basis can be anywhere from 50 to 500.
What is the organizational structure of the Air Quality Laboratory? - The Air Quality Laboratory has one supervisor, and one environmental analyst. However, these personnel spend 70-80 percent of their work time in non-laboratory related work activities of the Division's continuous emission monitoring (CEM) program.
What are the minimum requirements for Air Quality Laboratory scientists? - Laboratory personnel are required to have at a minimum a Bachelor's Degree in a natural cience.
If I can smell hydrogen sulfide (H2S, the smell of rotten eggs) is it harmful to me? - The human nose is acutely sensitive to hydrogen sulfide and other reduced sulfur compounds at relatively low levels of concentration of the gas (0.001 - 0.010 parts per million, ppm.). Typically a person's sense of smell is able to sense the odor of hydrogen sulfide sometimes far below the regulated concentration limit for the pollutant (0.026 ppm, ambient standard.). The gas, however, is deadly toxic at high levels of concentration (@ 500 ppm). At these high levels of concentration it has the ability to impair ones sense of smell, so people can become victims of hydrogen sulfide before they are made aware of its presence.
Are room ozonators safe to use? - Room ozonators are sometimes marketed as healthful devices to improve the air quality of a person's environment. Commercial units are used to rid homes of obnoxious odors of smoke, as from a recent fire, and other odorous compounds. Smaller units are marketed to remove cigarette odors. During the operation of these commercial devices it is imperative that neither animal nor plant be present - this includes humans and their pets. Ozonators produce ozone gas. Ozone is recognized as one of the strongest and most harmful pollutants known to humans. It works by oxidizing (reacting with) odorous chemicals and changing them into less odorous forms of chemicals. Ozone, however, doesn't discriminate between odorous chemical and healthy living tissue. Ozone has been shown to react and scar lung tissue at relatively low levels of concentrations. Assessing Toxic Effects of Environmental Pollutants, edited by: D.S. Lee, J. Brian Mudd. This lab does not advocate usage of any ozonator with humans and their pets present.
Created: 20-December-2000 at 2:23:33 PM Updated: 4/25/01
