Moss Landing Air: Is there a difference between air monitoring and air sampling?
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Yes. Monitoring and sampling are used to accomplish different goals.
Air monitoring gives immediate results. Air monitoring at the site occurs during all work activities and shows patterns and changes in the air in real time. The air is monitored for PM2.5, PM10, and hydrogen fluoride gas. Monitoring will tell us if immediate action is necessary.
Air sampling takes physical samples of the air which are sent to an independent laboratory for analysis. Sampling looks at what was in the air over the entire day. Sample results provide us with an average daily concentration of contaminants.
Sampling results are reviewed if air monitors detect elevated levels of contaminants. The air monitoring informs the work in real time, and the sampling is used to validate the monitoring data by providing more precise information on concentrations of contaminants if the monitor detects elevated particulates.
The air is sampled for aluminum, asbestos fibers, cobalt, copper, manganese, and nickel.
For more information about community safety, see our Fact Sheet: Keeping the Community Safe (pdf) .