Development and validation of the volatile correction model for PM10 - An empirical method for adjusting TEOM measurements for their loss of volatile particulate matter

EU Directives stipulate that PM10 should be measured using the gravimetric reference method as laid out in EN12341 [CEN, 1998. Air Quality - Determination of the PM10 Fraction of Suspended Particulate Matter Reference Method and Field Test Procedure to Demonstrate Reference Equivalence of Measurement Methods. European Committee for Standardisation], or an equivalent method as demonstrated using EC guidance [EC, 2005. Demonstration of Equivalence of Ambient Air Monitoring Methods. European Commission Working Group on Guidance for the Demonstration of Equivalence]. There is however a conflict between the requirement to measure PM10 using the gravimetric reference method and the need for rapid public reporting, and many member states, including the UK, rely on non-gravimetric techniques to measure PM10. In the UK the majority of PM10 measurements are made using the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM), which does not meet the equivalence criteria [Harrison, D., 2006. UK Equivalence Programme for Monitoring of Particulate Matter. Defra, London]. The implied need to upgrade or replace TEOMs with an equivalent automated measurement technique has significant cost implications. The model described in this paper was based on analysis of daily mean measurements of PM10 by the Filter Dynamics Measurement System (FDMS) and the TEOM at UK sites. It uses the FDMS measurement of the volatile component of PM10 (referred to here as FDMS purge) to correct for differences in the sensitivity to volatile PM10 between the TEOM and the EU gravimetric reference method. The model equation for the correction of TEOM PM10 measurements is: TEOMVCM = TEOM - 1.87 FDMS purge due to the regional homogeneity of volatile PM, the FDMS purge concentration may be measured at a site distant to the TEOM, allowing the possibility of using a single FDMS instrument to correct PM10 measurements made by several TEOMs in a defined geographical area. The model was assessed against the criteria for the EC Working Group's Guidance for the Demonstration of Equivalence of Ambient Air Monitoring Methods [EC, 2005. Demonstration of Equivalence of Ambient Air Monitoring Methods. European Commission Working Group on Guidance for the Demonstration of Equivalence]. The model satisfies the equivalence criteria using remote FDMS purge measurements for distances up to 200 km (in 22 out of 23 data sets). These data provide strong evidence that the model is a viable tool for correcting measurements from TEOM instruments on the national and local government networks. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.