Field comparison of passive air samplers with reference monitors for ambient volatile organic compounds and nitrogen dioxide under week-long integrals

J Environ Monit. 2009 Jan;11(1):220-7. doi: 10.1039/b809588d. Epub 2008 Oct 8.

Abstract

This study evaluates performance of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and volatile organic compound (VOC) passive samplers with corresponding reference monitors at two sites in the Detroit, Michigan area during the summer of 2005. Ogawa passive NO2 samplers and custom-made, re-useable Perkin-Elmer (PE) tubes with Carbopack X sorbent for VOCs were deployed under week-long sampling periods for six weeks. Precise results (5% relative standard deviation, RSD) were found for NO2 measurements from collocated Ogawa samplers. Reproducibility was also good for duplicate PE tubes for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX species, all < or = 6% RSD). As seen in previous studies, comparison of Ogawa NO2 samplers with reference chemiluminescence measurements suggested good agreement. Generally good agreement was also found between the PE tubes and reference methods for BTEX species.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollutants / chemistry
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Michigan
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis*
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Nitrogen Dioxide