Society's growing concern for air quality is driving the continuous development of production processes that tend to reduce emissions of atmospheric pollutants.

This development must be associated with an improvement in the techniques for determining the different pollutants emitted, so that it is possible to know with total reliability whether pollutant emissions comply with the legislative limits established for each process. Continuous measurement systems (CEMS) are an example of improved pollutant determination techniques.

Emission control can be carried out on an ad hoc basis, through regulatory measurements according to the periodicity established in the regulatory documents for the different industrial activities, or through the SAMs, which allow real-time monitoring of the pollutants emitted in each process.

Whether it is a question of periodic spot measurements or SAMs, the control of atmospheric emissions must be guaranteed by a Test Laboratory accredited by ENAC according to UNE-EN 17025. The laboratory plays a key role, as it provides the owner of the installation in which the measurements are taken with the necessary security to demonstrate compliance with current regulations and is the guarantor of quality to give conformity to the Administration.

The use of GHS as a substitute for regulatory measures is established by the different competent administrations for those industrial sectors that are likely to generate a greater quantity of atmospheric pollutants. These activities require real-time monitoring of the concentration of pollutants, which allows an immediate response to be given in the event of exceeding the established emission limits.