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Intercomparison Program for Organic Speciation in PM2.5 Air Particulate Matter: Description and Results for Trial III
Published
Author(s)
Michele M. Schantz, Dianne L. Poster, John R. Kucklick, Stephen A. Wise, S McDow, J Lewtas
Abstract
A working group of investigators, who are characterizing and quantifying the organic compounds in particulate matter (PM) as part of the US EPA s PM 2.5 research program and related studies, was established to advance the quality and comparability of data on the organic composition of PM. This group has completed their third interlaboratory comparison study. The third study included two parts: Trial IIIa and Trial IIIb. Participants in Trial IIIa received a sample of SRM 1648 Urban Particulate Matter and a sample of PM2.5 collected recently in Baltimore, MD along with a sample of SRM 1649a Urban Dust. The participants in Trial IIIb received four filters of RM 8785 Air Particulate Matter on Filter Media along with a sample of SRM 1649a. The target analytes for these comparison studies include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrated PAHs, alkanes (including hopanes and cholestanes), sterols, carbonyl compounds (ketones and aldehydes), acids (alkanoic and resin), phenols, and sugars. Because this is a performance-based study, laboratories are encouraged to use the methods that they are routinely using in their laboratories to analyze similar samples. The consensus values, accuracy and precision assessments, and the methods used by each laboratory are summarized in this report for Trials IIIa and IIIb.
Schantz, M.
, Poster, D.
, Kucklick, J.
, Wise, S.
, McDow, S.
and Lewtas, J.
(2006),
Intercomparison Program for Organic Speciation in PM2.5 Air Particulate Matter: Description and Results for Trial III, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
(Accessed October 11, 2025)