To obtain timely data for the purpose of air quality assessment, air quality trend
reporting, and to meet the requirements for inclusion of the data in provincial and
national air quality databases, a continuous method of analyzing Total Hydrocarbon
(THC) concentrations in ambient air is used. This method is capable of measurement
updates at a rate of once every five minutes or faster. Readings from instruments of this
method enables the calculation of hourly averaged concentrations of THC. Commercially
available THC analyzers are used in the method.
This method is applicable to the measurement of THC concentrations in ambient air in
the range of 0.1 parts per million (ppm) to 50.0 parts per million (ppm).
This method adheres to the requirements of the current Air Monitoring Directive (AMD)
1989. In some cases the limits and specifications exceed the requirements of the current
AMD. It should be considered that the current and any future amendments or drafts of
the AMD will be used as the benchmark for requirements and criteria for ambient air
monitoring practices conducted in the Province of Alberta. Information used to write this
procedure was also taken from sources identified in the reference section.