European project: Metrology for Chemical Pollutants in Air

Annarita Baldan

doi:10.1051/metrology/201310002

Abstract

The measurement of gaseous pollutants in air is a sensitive and priority issue that has a large impact on human health and environment. The European Directive on “Ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe” (2008/50/EC) sets limit values and data quality objectives for the measurement in EU member states of air pollutants in ambient air. Although no harmonized legislation is currently present for the monitoring of indoor air, the concern on the exposure to indoor chemical pollutants is clearly increasing. The Joint Research Project MACPoll (Metrology for Chemical Pollutants in Air), running under the European Metrology Research Program, addresses the need to improve the metrological traceability and comparability of measurements using current air monitoring techniques and the need to set up a metrological bases for the new sensor technologies used in air quality applications.

Highlights

Chemical air pollutants are gaseous or vapour compounds in air that are potentially harmful with respect to human health and to the environment
The Joint Research Project MACPoll (Metrology for Chemical Pollutants in Air), running under the European Metrology Research Program, addresses the need to improve the metrological traceability and comparability of measurements using current air monitoring techniques and the need to set up a metrological bases for the new sensor technologies used in air quality applications
3 Calibration gases for reactive air pollutants at EU Limit Values. This part of the project focuses on traceable calibration gases for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) at concentration levels corresponding to the Limit Values (LVs) given in the Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC) for the measurement of ambient air pollutants

Summary

Introduction

Chemical air pollutants are gaseous or vapour compounds in air that are potentially harmful with respect to human health and to the environment. The concentration levels of the primary gas pollutants (sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, benzene and ozone) are regulated by the European Directive 2008/50/EC on air quality [1]. These gases are the result of human activities (such as exhaust vehicles in cities) and industrial emissions or natural processes (such as volcanic eruptions). In support to the preparation and enforcement of air quality regulation, standardization and metrological activities are deemed of fundamental importance. They give the basis, by complementing each other, to a proper measurement infrastructure. The JRP focuses on improving the metrological traceability and comparability of measurements using current air monitoring techniques and on setting-up a metrological basis for the new sensor technologies used in air quality applications

Outline of JRP MACPoll

Calibration gases for nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides at Limit Values

Reference systems for indoor air pollutants

Micro sensors for air monitoring applications

Calibration gases for reactive air pollutants at EU Limit Values

Dynamic generation methods

Comparing calibration gases

Zero gas standards for the measurement of reactive pollutants

State-of-the-art in zero gas measurements

Measurement approach

Developing a certification protocol

Case study: adsorption of trace levels of ammonia on material surfaces