Quality Assurance System for TSP Monitoring at Redaire

摘要

The Monitoring Network for the Surveillance of the Air Quality in the Aburra Valley (Redaire) encompasses 26 semiautomatic pieces of equipment distributed in 13 monitoring stations. The operation is supported mainly by Area Metropolitana del Valle de Aburra, the regional environmental authority with the collaboration of five universities and the spare economical support from another four environmental authorities. The network monitors Total Suspended Particles (TSP), Inhalable Particulate Matter (PM10), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Oxides (NO2). Redaire has started a monitoring quality assurance program that includes the development of control processes for operation and support activities. The main focus is on the quality assurance of qualitative and quantitative data to be used in technical and scientific reports used for decision making actions.The Quality Handbook contains processes mappings and their characteristics. The handbook includes policies, standards (3),regulations, programs, operative manuals(7),procedures(17),forms(54)and instructions(28).The operative processes characterization included the following essential activities: preparation stage, sample taking, storage and transportation, laboratory analysis, information processing and reporting. The support processes included strategies for metrology and maintenance. The Control processes included documentation for station location, control and follow up activities of improvement plans, laboratory evaluation and evaluation of research proposals and internal auditing. This project recommended the constitution of the quality committee, the development of a policy for the personnel at Redaire, roles and responsibilities definitions, report of non conformities and the implementation of preventive and corrective actions.