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Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Data for BP Spill/Deepwater Horizon - August 2010

Published by U.S. EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) - Office of Emergency Management (OEM) | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2010-08-20T00:00:00.000+00:00
The Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) buses are self-contained mobile laboratories that conduct instant-result monitoring of air quality at particular locations. In response to the BP Spill in 2010, equipment in the TAGA buses monitored for air toxics known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The specific VOCs being monitored were benzene, toluene, and xylene. These substances are also associated with facilities such as gas stations, oil refineries, paper mills, and autobody shops. The TAGA monitoring found that these substances are not present or are being detected at low levels in the areas monitored along the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans, LA. The levels found were well below levels that would cause temporary discomfort, irritation, or other minor effects.

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