Analyses of Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona Fine Particulate Matter Mass Concentration Data: Field Comparisons of Sampling Methods

摘要

The Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards are defined by ambient monitoring methods specified by the EPA. No absolute measurement standard exists for ambient particulate matter aerosols, including the new regulatory cutpoint of PM_(2.5). The EPA has published technical specifications for these PM_(2.5) sampling devices. These specifications were fabricated into a prototype Federal Reference Method (FRM) sampler by Graseby-Andersen of Smryna, GA. Two sampler intercomparison studies (Phoenix 12/96-1/97 and Tucson 3-5/97) tested the field performance by using the mass loading data to compare identical prototype PM_(2.5) FRM samplers against other models of paired PM_(2.5) samplers with differing designs and smaple methods.