TSI Helps Investigate Air Quality at Beijing 2008 Olympics
July 18, 2008- TSI Inc. is supporting the air quality monitoring efforts for the Beijing Olympic Games by providing multiple measurement instruments to sports stadiums, foreign newspapers, TV news stations and research organizations at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. During the bidding process in 2001, Beijing made the agreement with the International Olympic Commission to bring air quality within the World Health Organization standards. Pollution levels remain one of the biggest challenges for the Olympic Games and some athletes have spoken of withdrawing from events because of the health threat.
TSI instruments that have been delivered to Beijing include the Q-Trak™ IAQ Meter, VelociCalc® Air Velocity Meter, DustTrak™ Aerosol Monitor and the SidePak™ Personal Aerosol Monitor.
The Q-Trak’s state-of-the-art sensors measure indoor air quality conditions including carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide. The Q-Trak will be used to ensure indoor air quality in all public environments, satisfying World Health Organization standards. The VelociCalc Air Velocity Meter measures indoor air flow and temperature and will be used extensively at the National Badminton Stadium to ensure the system is functioning at design specifications as well as meeting energy conservation requirements. The badminton courts are also being tested for draft, a very important parameter for badminton matches.
The DustTrak Aerosol Monitor measures airborne particles, which is a major cause of Beijing’s pollution. TSI dust (or aerosol) monitors measure aerosols in a wide variety of environments, from industrial settings to outdoor construction sites. The BBC has been reporting daily air quality measurements taken with the DustTrak Aerosol Monitor as well. The SidePak is a lightweight, belt mounted laser photometer that displays and data logs dust concentration in real time. The Beijing Health Inspection team is using the SidePak for walk-in spot testing at every sports ground during July.
Also, TSI has supplied a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer,™ an Aerodynamic Particle Sizer® and the Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitor to researchers at Cornell University and Peking University for a four year study that began in 2006. The study monitors ultrafine particles in the Beijing air. Recently delivered, an Ultrafine Particle (UFP) Monitor is set to start monitoring in August 2008. The UFP Monitor will generate a continuous record of toxic ultrafine particles concentrations before and during the course of the Olympic Games. The UFP Monitor has been specifically designed for long-term, air quality monitoring. The UFP Monitor has been designed under the auspices of the European Union’s Life project, part of the Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) initiative that has been in effect since 2001.
In addition, a Model 8130 Automated Filter Tester was purchased by the Beijing National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to test respirators and face masks that will be used by first responders in emergency incidents during the Beijing Olympic Games such as terrorist attack, chemical or biochemical attack.