The Draft APH Method is designed to measure the gaseous-phase concentrations of volatile aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons in air and soil gas.  Volatile aliphatic hydrocarbons are collectively quantitated within two carbon number ranges: C₅ through C₈, and C₉ through C₁₂. Volatile aromatic hydrocarbons are collectively quantitated within the C₉ to C₁₀ range. The method also identifies and quantifies the individual concentrations of 10 target analytes, including MtBE, BTEX, and certain naphthalenes.

Since its release, the Draft APH Method has been used for the analysis of indoor air and soil gas to evaluate regulatory compliance with the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) associated with petroleum releases.  Over this period, the Department has received a number of comments from the laboratory, consulting, regulated, and environmental communities regarding performance and suggested modifications to improve overall method accuracy and precision.

The Department announces the formation of an APH workgroup with a mission to finalize the APH Method and develop a companion document to be included in the previously published Compendium of Analytical Methods (CAM).  This document will describe an approved analyte list, and method-specific quality control requirements and performance standards to provide "Presumptive Certainty" criteria for APH data.

The workgroup will be tasked to review and evaluate the Draft APH Method and suggest method revisions based on their collective analytical experience, lessons learned and current available technology.  Specific analytical components to be considered, include:

• Sampling Procedures
• Canister Preparation Methods
• Analyte List Revisions (non-petroleum analytes)
• Potential Ethanol Interferences
• Standard Preparation (gas vs. liquid standards)
• Internal Standards
• Calibration Method
• Use of dryers
• Analyte calculations
• Quality Control requirements
• Performance Standards

The first workgroup meeting is scheduled for November 13, 2007.  Please contact Don Muldoon in MassDEP's Boston office by telephone (617) 292-5785 or E-mail  (Donald.Muldoon@state.ma.us) or go to the APH Workgroup Webpage for additional workgroup information.