Ohio Lumex used HAPS Metals Sorbent Traps to investigate a real-world air quality event
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, Americans awoke once again to hazy skies due to wildfire smoke drifting over from Canada. As PMâ‚‚.â‚… readings climbed, we wanted to determine which metals were present in Canadian wildfire smoke reaching Ohio. Rather than speculate, we decided to conduct an impromptu investigation using the same analytical technologies and laboratory capabilities we provide to customers every day. Although this was an informal R&D study rather than a planned research project, it provided a unique opportunity to see what our equipment would detect during an active air quality event.
Using our HAPS Metals Sorbent Traps, which were developed through the EPA’s Small Business Innovation and Research program for trace metals measurements, our team collected ambient air samples outside our Cleveland-area facility during the smoke event. The sorbent traps are designed to collect particle-bound and vapor-phase hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) metals for laboratory analysis, making them well suited for investigating real-world air quality events.
The collected samples were analyzed in our analytical laboratory using EPA Method 6020B. Sampling durations differed between collection periods, and at the time of the study, a clear-air baseline was not available, so these results should be viewed as an exploratory demonstration rather than a controlled scientific study.
Metals in Canadian Wildfire Smoke: What We Found
Particle-bound zinc and antimony were detected in the smoke samples.
| ZINC 1,020–2,180 ng/m³ | ANTIMONY 45.6–95.2 ng/m³ |
No consistent vapor-phase metal signal was observed, which is consistent with an aged smoke plume that had traveled hundreds of miles before reaching Ohio. Antimony is especially noteworthy because some antimony compounds can be toxic when inhaled, although this exploratory study was not designed to determine health risk.
As wildfire smoke continues to reach communities far from the fires themselves, the public, regulators, and researchers need information about what is in the air. Targeted sampling and trace-level analysis can help bring clarity to the hazy air that we were breathing.
Why This Matters
When air quality issues arise, researchers, environmental professionals, and regulators need tools that go beyond measuring particulate matter alone. Understanding what is present in the air begins with collecting representative samples for laboratory analysis capable of identifying hazardous air pollutants, including trace metals.
Ohio Lumex HAPS Metals Sorbent Traps provide a practical solution for collecting hazardous air pollutant (HAP) metals for laboratory analysis in applications including:
- Ambient air monitoring
- Industrial hygiene
- Industrial emissions
- Environmental investigations
- Research
Collecting high-quality samples in the field requires the right sampling platform. Ohio Lumex offers sorbent trap sampling systems designed for reliable field deployment: the OLM30B Industrial Sampling System and the Ei410 Ambient Air Sampling System.
This exploratory investigation demonstrates how targeted sampling can provide valuable insight into air quality conditions and highlights the importance of collecting representative samples when unexpected environmental events occur. Whether you’re conducting routine ambient air monitoring, investigating an unusual air quality event, or developing a research study, Ohio Lumex can help. Contact our team to learn more about HAPS Metals Sorbent Traps and sampler-associated systems.
