Call for 4th Proficiency Testing Scheme (PTS) for PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration measurements

World Calibration Centre for Aerosol Physics (WCCAP)
The WCCAP was founded in 2002 to serve as a competence center for in-situ physical and optical aerosol measurements as part of the world-wide GAW-program of the WMO. This WCCAP is world-wide unique for the quality assurance of physical and optical in-situ aerosol measurements and station audits to improve infrastructures.
European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP)
ERLAP was founded in 1994 to serve as a calibration facility for measurements of particulate matter and gaseous air pollutants in Europe. Inter-laboratory comparisons have been organized yearly or more for 2 decades. As a service of the European Commission, ERLAP provides support independently of national and private interests, which makes it unique in Europe.
Aerosol Chemical Monitor Calibration Center (ACMCC)
The ACMCC is managed by a consortium of French laboratories, including CNRS (LSCE and LaMP) and INERIS, and is mainly based at LSCE, located south of the Paris region. As part of the quality control procedures, the ACMCC provides a large set of independent co-located on-line/off-line aerosol measurements for chemical, physical and optical parameters. It offers innovation opportunities through the exchange of information between manufacturers and users, the optimization of technological solutions, and the evaluation of new online aerosol chemical analyzers.
Prague Aerosol Calibration Centre (PACC)
The PACC was founded in 2020 as part of ACTRIS Topical Centre for Aerosol In-Situ observations (CAIS/ECAC). It serves for calibration and quality assurance of physical in-situ aerosol measurements and station audits for ACTRIS and for external users. (operational 2021)
Cluster Calibration Center (CCC)
CCC was founded in 2018 to serve as a calibration facility for sub 10 nm aerosol, cluster and ion measurements. It provides instrument-specific calibration services and training. (operational 2021)
Organic Tracers and Aerosol Constituents Calibration Center (OGTAC-CC)
The Atmospheric Chemistry Department of TROPOS hosts the Organic Tracers and Aerosol Constituents - Calibration Centre (OGTAC-CC), which is the first calibration center for these class of compounds worldwide, providing a strong benefit to the aerosol community, as it harmonizes approaches for the chemical analysis of organic particulate constituents.
Elemental Mass Calibration Centre (EMC2)
The EMC2 unit will be hosted in the INFN LABEC laboratory which is devoted to the analysis of the elemental composition of aerosols, environmental samples and cultural heritage by means of analytical nuclear techniques, such as ion beam analysis, besides other field of applications, for instance material science and forensics, and radiocarbon dating with accelerator mass spectrometry. The LABEC laboratory was born in 2003 with the installation of a 3 MV Tandetron particle accelerator and stems from more than thirty years of experience of the research group members with accelerator-related analytical techniques.
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Call for 4th Proficiency Testing Scheme (PTS) for PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration measurements

CAIS-ECAC
Published by ERLAP in Workshop · Monday 07 Oct 2024 ·  1:15
INVITATION LETTER

PROFICIENCY TESTING SCHEME
FOR PARTICULATE MATTER MASS CONCENTRATION
JRC ISPRA – ITALY, JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025


Dear ACTRIS partners,
Particulate Matter (PM) is considered as one of the most harmful air pollutant in outdoor air for human health. Although PM mass concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) are not ACTRIS variables, they can be useful in data QC processes like e.g. mass closure exercises.

In January – February 2025, the European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution of the EC – Joint Research Centre will organise its 4th Proficiency Testing Scheme (PTS) for PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration measurements. Practically, the results obtained by the participants during a 6-week field campaign in Ispra (IT) will be statistically evaluated according to relevant ISO guides. Participants shall primarily use the reference method described in the European standard EN 12341. However, on-line instruments will be accommodated as much as possible.

Participation in this PTS is free of charge for public Research Performing Organisations. Transport and accommodation will be at your own cost and no certificate will be issued.

You may express your interest in participating through the web platform JRC-ERLAP PT-DAP following the link: https://erlap-intercomparison.jrc.ec.europa.eu

Your application will be evaluated at the closure of the registration period on 15 October 2024.

The protocol of this PTS and instructions about data submission are available at the PT-DAP platform.
All official communication is managed through a functional mailbox at JRC: JRC-ERLAP@ec.europa.eu

pdf document: ERLAP_invitation_PT_PM 2025-versACTRIS[2]

Looking forward to reading your expression of interest and having a fruitful cooperation,

Jean-Philippe Putaud
PT Coordinator
Joint Research Centre
Via E. Fermi 2749
21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
jean.putaud@ec.europa.eu


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