TO-15 Methods Comparisons
As the nation’s leading indoor air quality laboratory since 1981, our EMSL Cinnaminson, NJ corporate headquarter facility is offering the analysis of volatile organics on a variety of whole air matrices by USEPA TO-15 and and NJDEP LLTO-15. Our corporate facility operates four dedicated instruments featuring state of the art Agilent GC/MS systems with Entech concentrators to satisfy all your analytical demands.
In 2007, the NJDEP developed the LLTO-15 procedure as a modification to EPA’s TO-15 method. Although both methodologies share similar field and laboratory techniques, the LLTO-15 modifications encompass a fixed compound list (64 including n-butane), lower reporting limits, additional quality control, and an extensive data deliverable package. EMSL is one of only a few laboratories certified to perform this procedure by the NJDEP. Additionally, EMSL also offers the USEPA Method TO15 for Ambient Air NJDEP Regulatory Reporting Format. Method criteria comparisons for TO-15 and LLTO-15 are outlined below in Tables 1 and 2.
It is important to select the appropriate method prior to canister requests as canister certification is performed by specific methods which will be reflected in the data deliverables. Individual state and federal agencies requirements always take precedence and should be considered when requesting a method.
Table 1 – Technical Requirements
| Method Requirement | USEPA TO-15 | NJDEP LLTO-15 |
|---|---|---|
| Canister “Out of Lab” Holding times | Not Defined | 15 days |
| Canister Specifications | Flexible | Requires 6- Liter for indoor/ ambient. Smaller sizes allowed for soil gas. |
| Flow Regulators and Sampling Durations | Flexible | Indoor air collected over 8 or 24 hours. Soil gas requires 200cc/ min regardless of canister size. |
| Reporting limits | See table below | See table below |
| Target Compound List | General. EMSL currently calibrates for 74 compounds. | 64 target compounds including n-butane. |
| Tentatively Identified Compounds (TICs) | Optional. If requested, EMSL identifies up to 20 TICs. | Required. Up to 30 TICs. |
| Tracer Gas (used in field to monitor seal integrity for soil gas sampling) | Not Defined. | Isopropanol or n-Butane which must be included in calibration. |
| Standard Calibration Gases | Single Source only. EMSL confirms with 2nd source. | Second Source required. |
| Closing Calibration Standard | None Required. EMSL runs daily. | Daily |
| Reporting Limit Laboratory Control Sample | None Required. EMSL runs daily | Daily |
| Laboratory control samples | None Required. EMSL runs daily. | Following Initial Calibration only. |
| Results Reporting Format | Not Defined. EMSL combines additional dilutions on one result page. | “CLP” like. Dilution runs are reported on separate result page |
| Data Deliverable Package | None Required. State program requirements may dictate (i.e. NJDEP Regulatory Format). | Specific to LLTO-15 including Summary and Extended data packages in both hard copy and pdf format along with EDDs. |
Table 2 – Reporting List and Limits
| USEPA TO-15 Scan | NJDEP LLTO-15 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compound | CAS# | MW | Target | RL (ppbv) | RL (ug/m3) | Target | RL (ppbv) | RL (ug/m3) |
| Acetone | 67-64-1 | 58.08 | X | 0.50 | 1.2 | X | 0.50 | 1.2 |
| Acetonitrile | 75-05-8 | 41.05 | X | 0.50 | 0.84 | |||
| Acrylonitrile | 107-13-1 | 53.08 | X | 0.50 | 1.1 | |||
| 3-Chloropropene (Allyl chloride) | 107-05-1 | 76.52 | X | 0.50 | 1.6 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| Benzene | 71-43-2 | 78.11 | X | 0.50 | 1.6 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| Benzyl chloride | 100-44-7 | 126.6 | X | 0.50 | 2.6 | |||
| Bromodichloromethane | 75-27-4 | 163.8 | X | 0.50 | 3.3 | X | 0.20 | 1.3 |
| Bromoethane (Ethyl bromide) | 74-96-4 | 109.0 | X | 0.50 | 2.2 | |||
| Bromoform | 75-25-2 | 252.7 | X | 0.50 | 5.2 | X | 0.20 | 2.1 |
| Bromomethane | 74-83-9 | 94.94 | X | 0.50 | 1.9 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 106-99-0 | 54.09 | X | 0.50 | 1.1 | X | 0.20 | 0.40 |
| n-Butane | 106-97-8 | 58.12 | X | 0.50 | 1.2 | X | 0.20 | 0.50 |
| Chlorobenzene | 108-90-7 | 112.6 | X | 0.50 | 2.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| Chloroethane | 75-00-3 | 64.51 | X | 0.50 | 1.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.50 |
| Chloroform | 67-66-3 | 119.4 | X | 0.50 | 2.4 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| Chloromethane | 74-87-3 | 50.49 | X | 0.50 | 1.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.40 |
| Carbon disulfide | 75-15-0 | 76.14 | X | 0.50 | 1.6 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 56-23-5 | 153.8 | X | 0.50 | 3.1 | X | 0.20 | 1.3 |
| 2-Chlorotoluene | 95-49-8 | 126.6 | X | 0.50 | 2.6 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| Cyclohexane | 110-82-7 | 84.16 | X | 0.50 | 1.7 | X | 0.20 | 0.70 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 124-48-1 | 208.3 | X | 0.50 | 4.3 | X | 0.20 | 1.7 |
| 1,2-Dibromoethane | 106-93-4 | 187.9 | X | 0.50 | 3.8 | X | 0.20 | 1.5 |
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | 95-50-1 | 147.0 | X | 0.50 | 3.0 | X | 0.20 | 1.2 |
| 1,3-Dichlorobenzene | 541-73-1 | 147.0 | X | 0.50 | 3.0 | X | 0.20 | 1.2 |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | 106-46-7 | 147.0 | X | 0.50 | 3.0 | X | 0.20 | 1.2 |
| Freon 12 (Dichlorodifluoromethane) | 75-71-8 | 120.9 | X | 0.50 | 2.5 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane | 75-34-3 | 98.96 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 107-06-2 | 98.96 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethene | 75-35-4 | 96.94 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethene (cis) | 156-59-2 | 96.94 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethene (trans) | 156-60-5 | 96.94 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 78-87-5 | 113.0 | X | 0.50 | 2.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene (cis) | 10061-01-5 | 111.0 | X | 0.50 | 2.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene (trans) | 10061-02-6 | 111.0 | X | 0.50 | 2.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| Freon 114 (1,2-Dichlorotetrafluoroethane) | 76-14-2 | 170.9 | X | 0.50 | 3.5 | X | 0.20 | 1.4 |
| 1,4-Dioxane | 123-91-1 | 88.11 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 |
| Ethyl acetate | 141-78-6 | 88.11 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 | |||
| Ethanol | 64-17-5 | 46.07 | X | 0.50 | 0.94 | X | 0.50 | 0.90 |
| Ethylbenzene | 100-41-4 | 106.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.2 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| 4-Ethyltoluene | 622-96-8 | 120.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.5 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| n-Heptane | 142-82-5 | 100.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene | 87-68-3 | 260.8 | X | 0.50 | 5.3 | X | 0.20 | 2.1 |
| n-Hexane | 110-54-3 | 86.18 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 | X | 0.20 | 0.70 |
| Isopropyl alcohol (2-Propanol) | 67-30-0 | 60.09 | X | 0.50 | 1.2 | 0.20 | 0.50 | |
| Isopropylbenzene (Cumene) | 98-82-8 | 120.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.5 | |||
| Methylene chloride | 75-09-2 | 84.93 | X | 0.50 | 1.7 | X | 0.20 | 0.70 |
| 2-Hexanone (MBK) | 591-78-6 | 100.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | |||
| 2-Butanone (MEK) | 78-93-3 | 72.11 | X | 0.50 | 1.5 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| 4-Methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK) | 108-10-1 | 100.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| Methyl methacrylate | 80-62-6 | 100.1 | X | 0.50 | 2.0 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) | 1634-04-4 | 88.15 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 | X | 0.20 | 0.70 |
| Naphthalene | 91-20-3 | 128.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.6 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| Propylene | 115-07-1 | 42.08 | X | 1.0 | 1.7 | |||
| Styrene | 100-42-5 | 104.1 | X | 0.50 | 2.1 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| Tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) | 75-65-0 | 74.12 | X | 0.50 | 1.5 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane | 79-34-5 | 167.9 | X | 0.50 | 3.4 | X | 0.20 | 1.4 |
| Tetrachloroethene | 127-18-4 | 165.8 | X | 0.50 | 3.4 | X | 0.20 | 1.4 |
| Tetrahydrofuran | 109-99-9 | 72.11 | X | 0.50 | 1.5 | X | 0.20 | 0.60 |
| Toluene | 108-88-3 | 92.14 | X | 0.50 | 1.9 | X | 0.20 | 0.80 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 120-82-1 | 181.4 | X | 0.50 | 3.7 | X | 0.20 | 1.5 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 71-55-6 | 133.4 | X | 0.50 | 2.7 | X | 0.20 | 1.1 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | 79-00-5 | 133.4 | X | 0.50 | 2.7 | X | 0.20 | 1.1 |
| Trichloroethene | 79-01-6 | 131.4 | X | 0.50 | 2.7 | X | 0.20 | 1.1 |
| Freon 11 (Trichlorofluoromethane) | 75-69-4 | 137.4 | X | 0.50 | 2.8 | X | 0.20 | 1.1 |
| Freon 113 (1,1,2-Trichloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethane) | 76-13-1 | 187.4 | X | 0.50 | 3.8 | X | 0.20 | 1.5 |
| 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene | 95-63-6 | 120.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.5 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene | 108-67-8 | 120.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.5 | X | 0.20 | 1.0 |
| 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane (Isooctane) | 540-84-1 | 114.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| Vinyl acetate | 108-05-4 | 86.09 | X | 0.50 | 1.8 | |||
| Bromoethene (Vinyl bromide) | 593-60-2 | 106.9 | X | 0.50 | 2.2 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| Vinyl chloride | 75-01-4 | 62.50 | X | 0.50 | 1.3 | X | 0.20 | 0.50 |
| Xylene (para & meta) | 1330-20-7 | 106.2 | X | 1.0 | 4.3 | X | 0.40 | 1.7 |
| Xylene (ortho) | 95-47-6 | 106.2 | X | 0.50 | 2.2 | X | 0.20 | 0.90 |
| 74 TO-15 Targets* | 64 LLTO-15 Targets* | |||||||
* m.p- Xylenes counted as a single (1) target compound.
References:
TO-15: Compendium of Methods for Determination of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air, Second Edition, Compendium Method TO-15, “Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Air Collected in Specially-Prepared Canisters and Analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), January 1999, (EPA/625/R-96/010b).
NJDEP-SRWM Low Level USEPA Method TO-15, March 2009 Update (NJDEP-LLTO-15 – 3/2007), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Remediation Management Response, Site Remediation Program.
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