Data Analysis and Passive Air Sampling System Coordination for the Atmospheric Monitoring of Priority Pollutants in the Great Lakes Basin (GLB)

The Air Quality Processes Research Section (ARQP) of Environment Canada (EC) has undertaken the air monitoring of organic pollutants in air in the Great Lakes Basin (GLB) in support of the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).  The objective of this contract is to support and improve monitoring data delivery of this project by:

a)  identifying a reduced analytical list for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) based on a thorough statistical analysis of the historical measurement results from the air monitoring program in the GLB, in comparison with selected measured results from other established air monitoring programs, including the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the Toxic Organic Micropollutant Survey (TOMPs) in the U.K. and the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP), to ensure data comparability, consistency and credibility;

b)  reporting on the atmospheric deposition and the trends of deposition fluxes of priority air pollutants to each of the five Great Lakes up to the end of 2010;

c)  identifying and performing an assessment of 5 suitable passive air sampling sites in GLB in coordination with the Water Science and Technology Directorate (WSTD) of EC (which will be performing precipitation measurements of priority pollutants at the same sites); and

d)  making arrangements with site operators to deploy the first set of air samples to the passive air sampling sites.

Duration/Period of Contract:
Upon award of the contract – December 31, 2013