PROFICIENCY TESTING SCHEME, Measurements of inorganic gaseous pollutants (SO2, CO, O3, NO and NO2) in filtered ambient air, 11-14 March 2024 Ispra, Italy

European Commission harmonisation programme for air quality measurements

Within the harmonisation programme of Air Quality monitoring in Europe the European Reference Laboratory of Air Pollution (ERLAP) organises Proficiency Tests (PT).
During the period 11-14 of March 2024, including ERLAP, ten Laboratories of AQUILA (Network of European Air Quality Reference Laboratories) met for a laboratory comparison exercise in Ispra (IT) to evaluate their proficiency in the analysis of inorganic gaseous air pollutants (NO, NO2, SO2, CO and O3) covered by the European Air Quality Directive 2008/50 EC [1] and following amendments [42].
One laboratory (National Physical Laboratory) did not participate for O3 and the Slovak Hydro-meteorological Institute for NO and NO2 measurements.
The proficiency evaluation, which assesses each participant's performance against the criteria z/z' score, provides the European Commission with insights into the status and capabilities of participants. In addition, considering that the evaluation scheme should be useful to participants for accreditation according to ISO 17025, they are requested to include their measurement uncertainty. Hence, participants’ results (measurement values and uncertainties) are also compared to the reference values applying the En–score method [13]. The results can be used by participants to implement or enhance their quality control system.
In agreement with all participants an evaluation of SO2 concentration measured as interference during NOx measurement has been carried out.
Based only on the z/z’-score evaluation all results reported were 98.2% satisfactory. Considering the En-score, 92.5% of all values were found satisfactory, but the overall performance of both the indicators can be considered good.
Considering the repeatability and reproducibility evaluation, the results among AQUILA participants at the highest generated concentration levels are satisfactory for measurements of all pollutants.

BARBIERE Maurizio Giuseppe; TARRICONE Claudia; BOROWIAK Annette

2024-11-29

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC139418

978-92-68-22423-6 (online)

1831-9424 (online)

EUR 40126 , OP KJ-01-24-164-EN-N (online)