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FEDERAL REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS FOR MEASURING FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
Citation:
Noble, C. A., R. W. Vanderpool, T. M. Peters, F F. McElroy, D B. Gemmill, AND R W. Wiener. FEDERAL REFERENCE AND EQUIVALENT METHODS FOR MEASURING FINE PARTICULATE MATTER. AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 34(5):457-464, (2001).
Impact/Purpose:
The overall objectives of this task are to provide reference methods and their associated EPA designation requirements for PM when new indicators of PM are required by OAQPS, and to provide continuous improvements to existing PM reference and equivalent methods so that national data quality objectives for PM can be met. These efforts will provide the necessary assurance that attainment determination uncertainties are at acceptable levels.
Description:
In the national ambient air quality standards specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Code of Federal Regulations, new standards were established for particulate matter on July 18, 1997. The new particulate matter standards specify mass concentration as the indicator for fine particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 wm or less). Ambient measurements for the new particulate standard must be performed by a new federal reference method as specified in the Code of Federal Regulations or by an alternative measurement method that has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as an equivalent method. The new particulate reference method is a 24 h integrated sample collected from the ambient air and analyzed gravimetrically. The reference method is explicitly specified using a combination of design-and performance-based criteria. Additional requirements listed in the Code of Federal Regulations address conditioning, handling, and weighing of the sample filter, which are performed manually. For alternative measurement techniques that do not meet the qualifications of the reference method, the Environmental Protection Agency defines three classes of candidate PM2.5 equivalent methods based on the measurement technique used and its degree of similarity to the reference method specifications.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development funded and managed the search described here under contract 68-D5-0040 to Research Triangle Institute. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.