California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Anthony Wexler

Contractor: University of California, Davis

Contract Number: 21RD020

Project Status: Completed

Relevant CARB Programs: Health & Exposure, Research Planning, Toxic Air Contaminants, Health Effects of Air Pollution, Community Health

Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, People at Risk, Non-Exhaust Emissions, Health Risk Assessment 

Research Abstract:

This project evaluates the performance of the Toxic-metal Aerosol Real Time Analysis (TARTA) instrument developed under CARB contract 17RD022. Unlike traditional methods like X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS), TARTA provides near-real-time analysis, identifying metals associated with emission activities instantly. TARTA's material build costs are much lower compared to similar instruments like the Cooper XACT or the Horiba PX-375, making it more accessible for communities concerned about toxic metal exposure.

In an eight-month field study comparing TARTA with the Cooper XACT in Los Angeles-Pico Rivera, TARTA demonstrated high data completeness and sensitive metal detection. For example, Fe levels recorded were 193 ng/m³ with TARTA, compared to 178 ng/m³ with XACT. The correlation coefficient (R²) between TARTA and XACT ranged from 0.25 (Al) to 0.41 (Fe). TARTA also showed a better correlation with PM2.5 than XACT. With its rapid, real-time analysis and affordability, TARTA provides a valuable tool for effective air quality monitoring, aiding community health assessments and environmental protection efforts.

Keywords: metals, emissions, toxic metals, exposure, TARTA, environmental justice, communities