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MULTI-SITE FIELD EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE SAMPLERS FOR MEASURING COARSE-MODE PM
Citation:
VANDERPOOL, R., T. G. ELLESTAD, T. HANLEY, R. SCHEFFE, P. A. SOLOMON, C. NOBLE, S. NATARAJAN, R. MURDOCH, J. AMBS, G. SEM, AND J. TISCH. MULTI-SITE FIELD EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE SAMPLERS FOR MEASURING COARSE-MODE PM. EM: AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S MAGAZINE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS. Air & Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, , 6-7, (2004).
Impact/Purpose:
Develop and evaluate methods for the sampling and analysis of PM in ambient air, with emphasis on FRM/FEM for PMc, measurement of carbonaceous aerosols, measurement of biogenic aerosols, comparisons measurements from the STN and IMPROVE monitoring networks, and continuous methods for PM mass and its chemical components.
Description:
In response to expected changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter, comprehensive field studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of sampling methods for measuring coarse mode aerosols (i.e. PMc). Five separate PMc sampling approaches were evaluated at three sampling sites selected to provide diverse challenges to the samplers with respect to aerosol concentration, aerosol particle size distribution, and aerosol composition. The candidate samplers evaluated included both traditional filter based samplers as well as near real-time, continuous monitors. Results showed that the various sampler designs provided repeatable responses and showed potential for measuring PMc concentrations with some degree of confidence. EPA is currently working with the sampler manufacturers in an effort to improve the accuracy of their respective sampler designs. Once appropriate design and/or operational improvements are identified and implemented, it is expected that follow-up field studies will be conducted.
Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.