Issues in VOC monitoring and reporting

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present a particularly unique testing dilemma since
there are a large number of different compounds defined as VOCs, The process of accurately
and consistently measuring the quantity of total VOCs emitted is a matter of concern to policy
makers and researchers,
Each method has advantages and disadvantages relative to the other methods, The choice of
measurement and reporting techniques depends on the purpose that the data will serve, Due to
differing analytical limitations for each of the VOC test methods, all sources may not be able
to use the same method/ procedures to monitor and report,
Because of the wide variety of compounds of interest coupled with the lack of standardized
sampling and analysis procedures, detennination of pollutants in ambient air is a complex
task, Many toxic organics can be sampled and analyzed by several techniques, with different
interferences and detection limitations, No uniforn1 averaging period is defined for ambient
voe measurement,