The Particulars on Particulates
New EPA rules allow continuous monitoring methods for fine particle pollution
- By Lucy H. Fraiser
- Sep 01, 2007
Last September, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
revised the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particle
pollution. As part of that measure, EPA
issued revisions to the ambient air
monitoring rules for fine particulate
matter (PM-2.5). These actions were
published in the Federal Register Oct.
17, 2006, and became effective Dec.
18, 2006.
The current manual gravimetric
Federal Reference Method (FRM) for
PM-2.5 involves a sequence of sample
filter preparation, transport to the field
site, insertion into the sampling device,
active air sampling, sample filter recovery,
transport to the laboratory, and
sample filter conditioning followed by a
weighing that provides a 24-hour integrated
measure of particle mass per
unit volume of air (micrograms per
cubic meter).
EPA’s new rules allow continuous
particulate monitors to be designated
as a Federal Equivalent Method (FEM)
that would supplement or replace existing
FRM samplers. The field test criteria
require FEM candidates to be trialed
during the winter and summer at locations
that represent unique, yet diverse,
airsheds within the United States. A
FEM monitor allows in situ hourly PM-
2.5 measurement, avoids the costly
labor-intensive process associated with
the FRM, and provides immediate data
for public reporting.
Our company manufactures the continuous
beta attenuation monitor
(BAM) for regulatory PM-10 and PM-
2.5 monitoring. Other versions of the
BAM, along with our optical aerosol
monitors, allow particle measurement
for industrial and research applications.
These instruments help expand the
monitoring of harmful airborne
particles in both outdoor and indoor
environments.
More information on these EPA rules
can be found at http://www.epa.gov/
air/particles/actions.html.
This article originally appeared in the 09/01/2007 issue of Environmental Protection.
About the Author
Lucy H. Fraiser, PhD, DABT, is a senior toxicologist and risk assessment specialist with ENSR International. Dr. Fraiser has 14 years of experience in risk assessment for toxic airborne materials, regulatory compliance planning and risk communication. Betsy Ruffle also contributed to this article. She has a MS in Environmental Health, and is the Risk Assessment Department Manager of ENSR's Massachusetts office.