Air Quality Monitoring &
Assessments
Spectrum Environmental Support can offer a range of independent Air monitoring & Air Quality assessment services that assist clients in achieving compliance with respect to environmental permitting, planning and health & safety regulations.
The department draws on reference techniques and internationally recognised standards to enable our consultants to carry out a variety of complex and basic air quality assessment and monitoring techniques in the following areas:
Air Quality Impact Assessments And Air Dispersion Modelling Techniques
Air Quality Impact assessments and air dispersion modelling techniques quantify how the passage of air pollutants within the atmosphere impacts on the environment and human health. Detailed modelling provides organisations with the data to demonstrate that installations comply with environmental permitting and planning conditions. Typical applications of air quality impact assessments include:
- Assessing the impact of modelled air pollutant releases from industrial installations to help organisations demonstrate compliance with air quality standard limits and environmental permit conditions.
- Air emissions risk assessments and bespoke environmental permit applications for part A (1) & A (2) installations.
- Dust and odour impact assessments in support of planning and environmental permit consents conducted in accordance with Environment agency & IAQM guidelines.
- Ammonia impact assessments from intensive farming & livestock installations.
- Consequence modelling of accidental chemical releases from COMAH or high risk sites for safety and emergency planning scenarios.
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Assessments
Ambient air quality monitoring assessments are designed to provide site operators and regulatory authorities with accurate and representative measurements of the level of air pollutants at key locations in the ambient air. Monitoring techniques can range from the deployment of certified real time instrumentation to the use of simpler manual methods, with all procedures adhering to recognised standards outlined in the EA TGN M8 monitoring ambient air
- Passive diffusion tube surveys offer a cost-effective approach in providing average concentrations measurements of key air pollutants (NO2). These studies can help establish baseline pollution levels prior to the construction or implementation of new development schemes
- Air monitoring investigations utilising real time particulate or gaseous monitoring systems can demonstrate compliance with environmental permit conditions for chemical and industrial plants. Bespoke Chemical speciation analysis can also be carried out to verify that emissions are safe and not posing any health risks to the workforce or wider general public.
- Boundary dust monitoring systems enable principal construction contractors to verify the effectiveness of dust management plans and also comply with section 61 and planning conditions
Nuisance Dust & Odour Assessments
Ambient air quality monitoring assessments are designed to provide site operators and regulatory authorities with accurate and representative measurements of the level of air pollutants at key locations in the ambient air. Monitoring techniques can range from the deployment of certified real time instrumentation to the use of simpler manual methods, with all procedures adhering to recognised standards outlined in the EA TGN M8 monitoring ambient air.
- Boundary monitoring of nuisance dust deposition and directional flux to assess the magnitude and composition of any hazardous dusts emitted from waste management and remediation sites.
- Deployment of real time air monitoring systems such as the ODORPREP unit allows site operators to engage with the community and respond to and also substantiate complaints at the very moment the nuisance occurs.
Bioaerosol Compliance Monitoring & Risk Assessment Services
Bioaerosol compliance monitoring & risk assessment services enable site operators to assess the potential health impacts of bioaerosol emissions on the immediate workforce and also at receptors beyond the site Boundary. Reference standard monitoring can be carried out using the latest techniques issued by the Environment Agency as specified in the EA TGN M9 – Environmental monitoring of bioaerosol at regulated facilities. Alternatively the standardised protocol for monitoring bioaerosol emissions can be implemented.
- Bioaerosol monitoring programmes can be designed to demonstrate that sites are complying with the specific conditions stipulated in Environment Agency permits. Typical monitoring programmes measure airborne concentrations of Mesophilic Bacteria and Aspergillus Fumigatus at locations around a site’s boundary or near sensitive receptors.
- Baseline monitoring and risk assessments can be conducted to inform planning and permitting authorities of the existing levels and suitability of any future impacts that new site processes may create on the local environment