1

History of the Development and 

Deployment of a Real Time MultiMetals CEMS and Fence Line Monitor

Dan Bivins

Measurement Technology Group

U. S. EPA OAQPS
2

Why are Multi-Metals Monitors Important?

 Eight of EPA’s 33 highest concern pollutants

 Persistent and are typically under reported

 Peak exposures can represent significant fraction of 

risks

 Infrequent/difficult measurements

 Highly variable and uncertain

 High local concentrations

 Can dominate local exposure

 Environmental justice issue

 Right to know community exposure 

 Effectively enforce compliance 

 Feedback to plant operators to effectively reduce 

emissions before they become a problem

 Assess and protect public health
3

Blast Furnace Upset

Stack/Ducted Emissions

Fugitive and Stack Emission
4

Fugitive Metal Emissions from a Smelter
5
6

Xact 620 Ambient Metals Monitor

PM size-selective inlet

Temperature controlled 19 inch rack

Heater

Sampling & Analysis Module

Operator interface/control panel

Flow control module

23 Elements Measured

X-Ray Fluorescence
7
8

1000 times more sensitive than Pb NAAQS!
9

24 hr Average is about 

250 ng/m3 !!

N

W E

S

E. St. 

Louis 

Monitor

3 AM

5 AM (0.65)

7 AM (0.58)

9 AM (0.76)

11 AM

(2,345)

1 PM 

(173)

3 PM (11)

5 PM 

(2.4)

Wind Direction 

(As Concentration, ng/m3)
Distance was 2 miles 10

You can’t fix it if you 

can’t measure it!

E. St. Louis Monitoring Site

Wind Direction 

During Maximum 

Arsenic Impact 223°

Incinerator

Time WD WS As ng/m3

9 118 0.9 0.76

11 223 2.4 2,345.00

13 275 3.7 173.00

Schools

Monitor
11

Profile Comparison and Source Identification

Comparison of key elements in FLM data and known source profiles 

enables source identification

1978
12

Timeline and Partners for CEMS

• 1999 - Cooper Environmental develops prototype 

CEMS

• 2000 - Army with our group serving in advisory role, 

installed prototype on ammunition destruction 

incinerator

• 2002 – ORD - Environmental Technology Verification 

on CEMS

• 2004 – Eli Lilly Company – Alternative monitoring for 

MACT

• Lilly costs - 3 to 5 million dollars

• 2005 – Lilly and Cooper wins EPA’s Environmental 

Excellence Award
13

Timeline and Partners for Fenceline/Ambient Monitor

• 2005 – Our group explores idea of converting CEMS to ambient 

monitor

• 2005 – Detection limit study with CARB proved detection limits 

good for ambient platform

• 2006 – 21M2 OSWER grant for fugitive monitor study - $30K

• 2007 – OAQPS helps fund prototype development - $50K

• 2008 – OAQPS funds ambient feasibility study in field - $75K

• 2009 – OAQPS funds ambient accuracy and precision study in 

MO - $100K

• 2009 – MO/Washington University participated in accuracy and 

precision study – not cost to EPA

• 2010 – OAQPS funds development of protocol, performance 

specifications, and QA/QC - $125K
14

Other Interested Parties

 OECA – Investigative case

 NEIC – 2 investigative cases

 Oregon DEQ – Schools

 Arizona DEQ and Region 9 – Schools and EJ

 SCAQMD – secondary lead smelters

 OTAQ – airports – Pb in avgas

 ORD, NERL – modeling interest

 OAQPS – School Air Toxics follow-up, Pb federal 

equivalent method, future standards
15

Potential Applications for Fenceline/Ambient 

Monitors

 MACT

 Ambient Air Quality Standards

 Source Apportionment

 Emission Factor Refinement

 Identification of unknown sources of metals emissions
16

Where are they in operation now?

 Australia

 South Korea

 Canada

 Missouri

 China

 Soon in Ohio
Tools

Fence Line Monitor

Performance Specifications

QA Procedures

Implementation Protocol

Traceability Protocol

Apportionment

17
18

Where do we go from here?

 Deploy ambient monitor to School Air Toxics 

Program in Oregon and then to Ohio for 

Region V

– OAQPS purchased mobile ambient monitor

 Could deploy ambient monitor at small 

airports for Pb in avgas studies for OTAQ

 Could deploy ambient monitor for Arizona and 

Region 9
19

Conclusions

 Stack CEMS and instrumental methods are available. No other 

continuous multi-metal monitors are available.

 Now we have a proven, real time, direct reading multi-metals 

ambient monitor available.

 Can identify intermittent sources not detected by EPA ambient 

FRM monitors

 Technology is ready for permitting and enforcement applications 

for both stacks and in ambient applications.

 Investment by OAQPS encouraged developer from prototype 

stage to off-the-shelf

– OAQPS < $400K

– Cooper and others $6 - 7 Million!