Harmonization of air quality measurements at European Union level

Abstract

An overview is given of the harmonization work led by the European Reference Laboratory of Air Pollution (ERLAP) in the field of air quality measurements. The implementation of current EC air quality directives in the European Member States and the preparatory work for future directives requires several actions in the matter of harmonization of measurement techniques. The activity of ERLAP is presented by giving a few examples of recent achievements. For the harmonization of directive 85/203/EEC on air pollution by nitrogen dioxide the two quality assurance programmes (QAP) are presented. QAP 1 concerned calibration procedures used in national laboratories and QAP 2 looked at quality control in the networks of the Member States. In the framework of the harmonization programme on directive 92/72/EEC a similar QAP 1 for the control of ozone calibration procedures has been carried out. In connection with the preparation of a future regulation concerning volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the results of a round robin intercomparison with 21 participating European laboratories are presented. The harmonization activities will be extended to new pollutants of coming directives.