title: Design of a cost-effective weighing facility for PM2.5 quality assurance.
abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Quality Assurance (QA) Guidance Document 2.12: Monitoring PM2.5 in Ambient Air Using Designated Reference or Class I Equivalent Methods (Document 2.12) requires conditioning of PM2.5 filters at 20-23 degrees C and 30-40% relative humidity (RH) for 24 hr prior to gravimetric analysis. Variability of temperature and humidity may not exceed +/-2 degrees C and +/-5% RH during the conditioning period. The quality assurance team at EPA Region 2's regional laboratory designed a PM2.5 weighing facility that operates well within these strict performance requirements. The traditional approach to meeting the performance requirements of Document 2.12 for PM2.5 filter analysis is to build a walk-in room, with costs typically exceeding $100,000. The initial one-time capital cost for the laboratory at EPA's Edison, NJ, facility was approximately $24,000. Annual costs [e.g., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recertifications and nitrogen replacement cylinders used for humidity control] are approximately $500. The average 24-hr variabilities in temperature and RH in the Region 2 weighing chamber are small, +/-0.2 degrees C and +/-0.8% RH, respectively. The mass detection limit for the PM2.5 weighing system of 47-mm stretched Teflon (lab blank) filters is 6.3 microg. This facility demonstrates an effective and economical example for states and other organizations planning PM2.5 weighing facilities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Science and Assessment, Monitoring and Assessment Branch, US Environmental Protection Agency, Edison, New Jersey, USA. carlton.annmarie@epa.gov
authors.forename: Annmarie G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Carlton
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teitz
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D004867:Equipment Design; D010316:Particle Size; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants