Proficiency testing scheme field measurements of PM10 and PM2.5 23/01-05/03/2025, Ispra - Italy
European Union-wide quality assurance programmes
The 2025 Proficiency Testing (PT) Scheme for PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ measurements, organized by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the AQUILA Network, assessed the performance of 22 European laboratories in measuring particulate matter (PM) concentrations, following the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive [1] and the EN 12341 [2] standard. Conducted from 23 January to 5 March 2025 at the JRC Ispra site (Italy), the study aimed at ensuring harmonized, accurate PM monitoring across the EU, critical for compliance and air quality policy evaluation.
Participants used gravimetric samplers (reference method) and, optionally, automatic analyzers, reporting daily PM concentrations with associated uncertainties. Performance was evaluated using z and z’ scores (measuring deviation from assigned values) and En-scores (accounting for measurement uncertainties). The results showed:
• High compliance: more than 90% of the results were considered satisfactory for both PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅.
• Outliers: few laboratories exhibited questionable or unsatisfactory performance, often due to overestimation biases.
• The En-score distributions confirm that most laboratories met the uncertainty targets of the Air Quality Directives [1].
• Data capture issues: laboratories using PTFE filters achieved a lower data coverage due to filter clogging in high-humidity conditions.
• Spatial homogeneity confirmed: the field variability was lower than in-between uncertainty limit stated in the EN method [2] (residuals < 0.71 µg/m³), ensuring a robust and reliable inter-laboratory comparisons.
The study highlights the solid capacity of EU National Reference Laboratories to monitor PM2.5 and PM10 in line with the EU Air Quality Directive but identifies key areas for improvement, including strengthen quality assurance and control checks at every step of the measurement, with reference to the conditioning and weighing of the filters. These findings support ongoing efforts to standardize air quality measurements and enhance data reliability for regulatory compliance.
TARRICONE Claudia;
BARBIERE Maurizio Giuseppe;
BOROWIAK Annette;
PUTAUD Jean-Philippe;
2025-09-12
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC143138
978-92-68-30989-6 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40408,
OP KJ-01-25-405-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143138,
10.2760/0519930 (online),
Additional supporting files
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