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Air Quality

Air quality particle testing standards are published by ISO, BS, and AS. ISO standards cover determination of particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by high performance liquid chromatography, black smoke index, asbestos fibers, numerical concentration of inorganic fibrous particles, mass concentration of ozone, general vocabulary, and particle size fraction definitions for health-related sampling. BS standards cover general aspects of air quality, measurement of air pollution, and the standard method for the measurement of the concentration of benzopyrene in ambient air. AS/NZS 3580 includes methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air.

ISO 16362:2005

Ambient air - Determination of particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by high performance liquid chromatography

ISO 16362:2005 specifies sampling, cleanup and analysis procedures for the quantitative determination of low volatility (particle-bound) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air. For sampling, a low-volume or a medium/high-volume sampling device may be used. Sampling times between 1 h and 24 h are possible. The sampling volume flow rates can range from 1 m/h to 4 m/h ( low volume sampler ) or from 10 m/h to about 90 m/h ( medium/high-volume sampler ). In any case, the linear face velocity at the collection filter should range between about 0,5 m/s and 0,9 m/s. The method has been validated for sampling periods up to 24 h. The detection limits for single PAHs and the standard deviations resulting from duplicate measurements are listed. ISo 16362:2005 describes a sampling and analysis procedure for PAH that involves collection from air onto a filter followed by analysis using high performance liquid chromatography usually with fluorescence detector (FLD). The use of a diode array detector (DAD) is possible. The combination of both detector types is also possible. Total suspended particulate matter is sampled. Generally, compounds having a boiling point above 430 C (vapour pressure less than 10 -9 kPa at 25 C, e.g. chrysene, benz[ a ]anthracene) can be collected efficiently on the filter at low ambient temperatures (e.g. below 10 C). In contrast, at higher temperatures (above 30 C, see also ISO 12884 [1] ), only PAHs having boiling points above 475 C (vapour pressure less than 10 -10 kPa at 25 C) are determined quantitatively.

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ISO 9835:1993

Ambient air - Determination of a black smoke index

Specifies a method for measuring the black smoke index of an ambient air sample based on the staining effect of particles which is produced when a sample of air is drawn through a filter paper. Annex A describes conversion of absorption coefficient to traditional black smoke units.

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ISO 13794:2019

Ambient air - Determination of asbestos fibres - Indirect-transfer transmission electron microscopy method

This document specifies a reference method using transmission electron microscopy for the determination of airborne asbestos fibres and structures in in a wide range of ambient air situations, including the interior atmospheres of buildings, and for a detailed evaluation for asbestos structures in any atmosphere. The specimen preparation procedure incorporates ashing and dispersion of the collected particulate, so that all asbestos is measured, including the asbestos originally incorporated in particle aggregates or particles of composite materials. The lengths, widths and aspect ratios of the asbestos fibres and bundles are measured, and these, together with the density of the type of asbestos, also allow the total mass concentration of airborne asbestos to be calculated. The method allows determination of the type(s) of asbestos fibres present. The method cannot discriminate between individual fibres of the asbestos and elongate fragments (cleavage fragments and acicular particles) from non-asbestos analogues of the same amphibole mineral [12] .

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ISO 14966:2019

Ambient air - Determination of numerical concentration of inorganic fibrous particles - Scanning electron microscopy method

This document specifies a method using scanning electron microscopy for determination of the concentration of inorganic fibrous particles in the air. The method specifies the use of gold-coated, capillary-pore, track-etched membrane filters, through which a known volume of air has been drawn. Using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, the method can discriminate between fibres with compositions consistent with those of the asbestos varieties (e.g. serpentine and amphibole), gypsum, and other inorganic fibres. Annex C provides a summary of fibre types which can be measured. This document is applicable to the measurement of the concentrations of inorganic fibrous particles in ambient air. The method is also applicable for determining the numerical concentrations of inorganic fibrous particles in the interior atmospheres of buildings, for example to determine the concentration of airborne inorganic fibrous particles remaining after the removal of asbestos-containing products. The range of concentrations for fibres with lengths greater than 5 µm, in the range of widths which can be detected under standard measurement conditions (see 7.2), is approximately 3 fibres to 200 fibres per square millimetre of filter area. The air concentrations, in fibres per cubic metre, represented by these values are a function of the volume of air sampled. The ability of the method to detect and classify fibres with widths lower than 0,2 µm is limited. If airborne fibres in the atmosphere being sampled are predominantly 0,2 µm in width, a transmission electron microscopy method such as ISO 10312 [ 8 ] can be used to determine the smaller fibres.

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ISO 10313:1993

Ambient air - Determination of the mass concentration of ozone - Chemiluminescence method

The method specified is based on drawing continuously, at a constant flow rate, an air sample through a particle filter before it enters the chemiluminescence analyser. It then flows into a reaction chamber where it is mixed with an excess flow of ethylene. Ozone and ethylene react instantaneously to produce light in the visible region (maximum at about 400 nm). The emitted light intensity is proportional to the concentration of ozone in the air sample and is measured by a photomultiplier tube. Applies to determination of the mass concentration of ozone between 2 g/m^3 and 10 mg/m^3 at the reference conditions.

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BS ISO 4225:2020

Air quality. General aspects. Vocabulary (British Standard)

This document specifies terms and definitions that are related to air quality (see 3.1.1.1). These are either general terms or are used in connection with the sampling (see 3.3.3.1) and measurement of gases, vapours (see 3.1.5.8) and airborne particles (see 3.2.2.1) for the determination of air quality. The terms included are those that have been identified as being fundamental because their definition is necessary to avoid ambiguity and ensure consistency of use. An alphabetical index of the terms is provided in Annex A. This document is applicable to all International Standards, ISO Technical Reports, ISO Technical Specifications, and ISO Guides related to air quality.

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BS 1747-11:1993

Methods for measurement of air pollution. Determination of a black smoke index in ambient air (British Standard)

Specifies a method for measuring the black smoke index of an ambient air sample based on the staining effect of particles which is produced when a sample of air is drawn through a filter paper. Annex A describes conversion of absorption coefficient to traditional black smoke units.

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BS 1747-12:1993

Methods for measurement of air pollution. Determination of the mass concentration of ozone in ambient air: chemiluminescence method (British Standard)

The method specified is based on drawing continuously, at a constant flow rate, an air sample through a particle filter before it enters the chemiluminescence analyser. It then flows into a reaction chamber where it is mixed with an excess flow of ethylene. Ozone and ethylene react instantaneously to produce light in the visible region (maximum at about 400 nm). The emitted light intensity is proportional to the concentration of ozone in the air sample and is measured by a photomultiplier tube. Applies to determination of the mass concentration of ozone between 2 g/m^3 and 10 mg/m^3 at the reference conditions.

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BS EN 15549:2008

Air quality. Standard method for the measurement of the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air (British Standard)

This document specifies a measurement method for the determination of particulate benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in ambient air, which can be used in the framework of the Council Directive 96/62/EC [1] and the Directive 2004/107/EC [2]. This document specifies performance characteristics and performance criteria to which the method should comply when it is used as a reference method. The performance characteristics of the measurement method are based on a sampling period of 24 h. This document describes a measurement method which comprises sampling of BaP as part of the PM10 particles, sample extraction and analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector (FLD) or by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). The method is applicable for the measurement of BaP in the concentration range from approx. 0,04 ng/m3 to approximately 20 ng/m3. The lower limit of the applicable range depends on the noise level of the detector and the variability of the laboratory filter blank. NOTE If the BaP concentration exceeds the calibration range the extract can be diluted.

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ISO 4225:2020

Air quality - General aspects - Vocabulary

This document specifies terms and definitions that are related to air quality (see 3.1.1.1). These are either general terms or are used in connection with the sampling (see 3.3.3.1) and measurement of gases, vapours (see 3.1.5.8) and airborne particles (see 3.2.2.1) for the determination of air quality. The terms included are those that have been identified as being fundamental because their definition is necessary to avoid ambiguity and ensure consistency of use. An alphabetical index of the terms is provided in Annex A. This document is applicable to all International Standards, ISO Technical Reports, ISO Technical Specifications, and ISO Guides related to air quality.

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ISO 7708:1995

Air quality - Particle size fraction definitions for health-related sampling

Defines sampling conventions for particle size fractions for use in assessing possible health effects of airborne particles in the workplace and ambient environment. Defines conventions for the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions; extrathoracic and tracheobronchial conventions may be calculated from the defined conventions. The conventions should not be used in association with limit values defined in other terms, for example for limit values of fibres defined in terms of their length and diameter.

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AS/NZS 3580.9.14:2013

Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air - Determination of suspended particulate matter - PM2.5 high volume sampler with size selective inlet - Gravimetric method (FOREIGN STANDARD)

Specifies a gravimetric method using a high volume sampler with size selective inlet for determining the mean concentration of suspended particles less than 2.5 ?m in ambient air.

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