International accords require companies to monitor, control, and reduce their emissions before they are released into the environment. In industries such as power generation, manufacturing, chemical, and petrochemical there are many particulate and gaseous emissions resulting from smoke stack emissions that must be monitored and reduced.

Ambient air is monitored in many ways. Air samples can be collected using sample bags or containers, and are then analyzed using gas chromatography. Continuous Emission Monitoring systems (CEM) can also be used to measure specific pollutants present in emissions. United States for example, EPA CEMs have a requirement under some of the environmental regulations for either continual compliance determination, or determination levels in which the facility is out of compliance with emission standards.

A variety of environmental pure gases and calibration gas standards are required in all areas.