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This page last
reviewed October 16, 2008
Quality assurance is
an integrated system of management activities involving planning,
implementation, assessment, and corrective action to ensure that a
process, item, or service is of the type and quality needed and
expected by the client. The objectives of quality assurance are to
provide accurate and precise data, minimize the loss of air quality
data due to malfunctions, and to assess the quality of the air
monitoring data to provide representative and comparable data
of known precision and accuracy. The precision and accuracy necessary
depends on how the data will be used. Data that must meet specific
requirements (i.e., criteria pollutants) are what is called a
controlled data set. Criteria for the accuracy, precision,
completeness, and sensitivity of the measurement must be met and
documented. Data with no formal data quality objectives (i.e., toxics)
are called a descriptive data set. The data quality measurements are
made as accurately as possible in consideration of how the data are
being used.
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 Air Monitoring Accuracy Programs |
A performance audit is an
on-site test aimed at challenging the integrity of the air
monitoring site's or laboratory's ability to generate data of
acceptable quality. |
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Performance Audits: |
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Gaseous
Criteria Pollutant Audits
NMHC
Audits
Carbonyl
Audits
Particulate
Matter Pollutants
Toxic
Air Contaminants
Meteorological
Audits |
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A
system audit is an on-site inspection and review of a monitoring
organization's entire program in which the total measurement
system is reviewed (sample collection,
sample analysis, data processing, etc.) |
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System Audits: |
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System
Audits |
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Quality
Assurance Manual
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This
six volume series describes the Air Resources Board's
(ARB) Quality Assurance Program. The volumes serve as guidance
documents for the operation of quality assurance programs used by the
ARB, local districts and private industry. The volumes are
intended to assist with implementing, designing, and coordinating air
quality monitoring projects. The volumes are presented in Adobe Acrobat
format. |
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Site Information
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Information
regarding each air monitoring station that is audited by the ARB.
Included are maps to each site, GPS coordinates, site photos,
pollutants monitored, and site surveys. The site surveys
list in-depth monitoring information such as traffic
descriptions, calibration dates, distances to trees and obstacles, and
residence times. Also included are the most recent data from certain
sites operated by ARB. Station information is browsable through either
the California Air Basin Map or Sitelist, which is
an aphabetical listing of air monitoring stations.
More sophisticated queries can be made from our
search page. Site web pages will be updated as new information
is gathered.
Interactive
Site Map
Specific
Site Search
Site List
Search
Site Information Database
In addition to
the detailed site information, tables summarizing each
agency's ambient air monitoring programs are provided.
The tables list what parameters are being measured at
each site.
Agency
Monitoring Information |
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Data Quality
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Information
regarding the precision and accuracy results for each individual air
monitoring agency. Agencies may access, with appropriate ARB
permissions, their annual precision and accuracy reports for various
programs. Also available are the annual data quality reports.
The reports summarize the quality of the ambient data in
quantifiable terms. Data quality information are available using the
links below:
Precision
and Accuracy Results
Data
Quality Reports
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| Monitoring Activities |
Tables
summarizing the air monitoring network and methods. The tables
are available for each monitoring program and are accessible using
the links below:
Gaseous
Criteria Pollutants
Hydrocarbon
Pollutants
Particulate
Matter Pollutants
TSP
and Visibility
Toxic
Air Contaminants
Toxics
Metals
Meteorological
In addition, the
QAS often summarizes air monitoring information as an assessment
of the monitoring activities in a specific area.
The link below lists QAS special projects:
Special
Projects |
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Standards
Laboratory
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Information about
calibrations, certifications and verifications
of ozone and flow rate primary and transfer standards, and
certifications of compressed gas cylinders.
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For
further information contact:
Merrin
Wright, Manager
Quality Assurance
Section
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