Modified organic chemicals are of great benefit in the dry cleaning , painting, air conditioning, and degreasing industries.  However, many have been proven to have harmful effects, including causing cancer.  When toxic substances become airborne (toxic air pollutants), emissions from one area can be carried to another area unseen and undetected.

The Mobile Air Toxics Laboratory transports scientific measuring instruments out to the neighborhoods to detect and measure airborne toxic substances. 

To view monitoring sites, click here.

To view the Air Toxics Annual Report, click here. (261Kb PDF)

An individual sample can be composited for as little as 12 minutes and as long as up to 100 hours, with the lab able to remain at any given site up to 7 days.

The onboard lab can analyze for more than 60,000 organic compounds.   The mobile laboratory is equipped with an Agilent Technologies 5973N mass spectrometer and Entech Instruments 7100 cryogenic concentrator which, under computer control, collects and concentrates air samples to detect extremely small quantities of organic compounds. In addition to analytical data, the system monitors meteorological conditions including wind speed, wind direction, and temperature.

The primary purpose for this mobile system is to collect data on organic compounds that are potentially harmful to the public health, many of which are also a factor in ozone formation. Currently the mobile lab is being used at fixed sites for long-term data collection at five locations per year such as large industrial facilities.

Construction Details

The Ford F700G low-profile cab and chassis and lab have an overall weight of 3-3/4 tons, a length of 30 feet, and height of 14 feet with equipment raised. On the open road, the 7-litre 236 HP EFI engine is capable of 55 mph.

Onsite, the Laboratory is fueled by propane with shore power and battery backup for analytical instruments. The lab has air conditioner, refrigerator and toilet facilities.

Suggestions or comments? Please e-mail the Lab.