1. Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, 01.-02. July 2008
Content
Planning of ambient air measurements – General rules
Investigations of traffic related air pollutants in key polluted areas
Determination of air quality characteristics of stationary emission sources
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

2. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Ambient air quality measurements are carried out in order to achieve specific objectives with regard to air quality characteristics (e.g. limit values) within a given area or at specified locations.
The main purpose of these measurements is generally to find out the effects of air pollutants on objects to be protected (human health, vegetation, ecosystem).
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

3. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Planning the Measurement:
Analyzing of the task description
Specifying the requirements for the
organization
measuring techniques
measurement strategy
evaluation
quality assurance
report
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

4. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Examples of tasks:
Measurements in accordance with EU-Guidelines
Investigation of the initial load
Investigation of traffic-related air pollution in residential areas
Investigation of the temporal and spatial distributions of air quality characteristics in urban areas
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

5. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Investigations of air quality characteristics in cases of complaints
Investigations of the proportions from a significant source to the air quality within a given area
Investigations of air pollution to verify whether harmful effects on objects to be protected are anticipated
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

6. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Location of measuring points I
Within the measuring area, measuring points
shall be established in places where
the ambient air standards are exceeded
humans may be continuously exposed to air pollution over a long period of time and where threshold values of the EU-guidelines are likely to be almost reached or exceeded
any other adverse effect of air pollution on the environment are to be expected
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

7. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Location of measuring points II
The objective of the measurements is
to provide a uniform assessment of the current air pollution situation and trends in the measuring area
to determine the nature and extent of air pollutands which may have adverse effects on the environment
to answer (with reasonable certainty) the question if there is a risk that threshold values will be exceeded
Therefore, measuring points should be established in
places in which the highest level of environmental
pollution is assumed.
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

8. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Location of measuring points III
The distance between the measurement station and the next major flow obstacle shall amount to less than double the height of the obstacle or the width of the obstacle.
In order to minimize the effects of local sources, the distance from industrial and domestic sources and from highly frequented roads shall be at least 20 metres. In case of industrial sources it must be checked, if the minimum distance is sufficient.
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

9. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Location of measuring points IV
In order to ensure a free flow around the sampling system obstacles (trees, buildings, etc.) are not allowed to be within 10 meter.
Sampling at lateral surfaces of buildings must be avoided in principle.
An interference of the measurement station by local circulation, dependent on topography, must be ruled out – as far as possible.
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

10. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Standard Cases:
preliminary measurements
monitoring measurements
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

11. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Preliminary measurements:
Providing first indications of the level of expected concentrations
Verifying the selection of measurement sites for carrying out monitoring
Verifying decisions on the necessity of monitoring
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

12. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Requirements to quality of results
Use of type-approved measuring instruments
Calibration by an accredited test laboratory
Determination of the measuring uncertainty
Determination of uncertainties of results
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

13. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Measurement techniques:
Data Quality Objectives of EU-guidelines
Standard Operational Procedures
Calibration Methods
Determination of the measurement uncertainty
(Comparison with reference standard)
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

14. Representative Measurements of Air Quality
Measurement Strategy:
Specification of measurement sites
Selection of sampling method
Specification of times of analysis
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008

15. Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, 01.-02. July 2008
Conclusion
The training and our guidelines on
„Representative Measurements of Air Quality“
are an application aid to everyone involved in the
planning, performance or evaluation of ambient air
quality measurements.
The guidelines can be used as a reference for
formulating performance specifications for the
investigation of air quality.
Bernd Heits
Representative Measurements – AQ-Workshop Bucharest, July 2008