Quality Control and Quality Assurance of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s contaminant data from the Air Quality Research Division

Atmospheric mercury data is collected on a routine and semi routine basis at various locations throughout Canada using the TekranTM instrumentation. These measurements are used to assess spatial and temporal trends of mercury within Canada and to assess the effectiveness of regulations implemented to reduce mercury emission sources. In order to asses the accuracy and precision of the data collected, rigorous quality control and quality assurance procedures must be applied. The Air Quality Research Division (AQRD) has produced specific standard operating procedures for data treatment and applied them to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC’s) current atmospheric monitoring stations. Currently, all atmospheric mercury data collected in Air Quality Research Division (ARQD) are expected to be treated with these pre-set quality control standards. In addition to mercury, persistent organic pollutant (POP) data is collected in the arctic on a weekly basis and the data, once through rigorous sample analysis, is also subject to ECCC established quality control processes. All the data collected, including mercury and POPs are submitted to both national and international databases for storage and so that the public can access and use these collected data. ECCC requires the services of a Contractor with the expertise to produce high quality, quality assured, and finalized air contaminants data in a time frame that meets ECCC’s national and international obligations.