National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) Monitoring Results

National Air Pollution Surveillance data are validated using automated and manual procedures. Data from network agencies are converted to a compatible format and then entered in the NAPS database. Although the data has been validated by an analyst from the originating agency, the values are also submitted to tests outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When data are flagged automatically or manually for another look, the originating agency must confirm the data before they are stored in the NAPS database.

Air monitoring data indicate pollution levels at sampling sites only and may not necessarily represent community-wide air quality. Community-wide comparisons can only be made by using data from all available sampling stations in a region and interpreting them on the basis of specific monitoring site characteristics.

In 2008, data submitted to the Canada-Wide database showed that there were more than 286 stations within 203 communities operating more than 1000 monitors.