Real air samples were collected at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA for differing time periods and analyzed using both FT-IR ATR spectroscopy and HPLC. The use of ATR gives an excellent first estimate of what types of particles are found in the Athens, GA-area air. Compounds including aldehydes, alcohols, amides and aliphatic carbons have been identified through the use of the ATR. Furthermore, the use of the ATR is a direct method for sample analysis because it does not require sample pre-treatment, allowing for less degradation of the sample. HPLC provides a more in-depth analysis of the aerosols collected in the Athens area in that single compounds may be isolated and identified. The project serves to give a comparison between the relative advantages of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy using an Attenuated Total Reflectance crystal and High Performance Liquid Chromatography, while simultaneously measuring the composition of aerosol particles.