Determination of suspended matter in ambient air - Measurement of the element concentration after sampling on filters - Determination of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, V and Zn by graphite furnace atomic absorpt
The guideline describes a sampling method for metals and metalloids as part of the PM 10 aerosol, a microwave pressure digestion of the sample in an oxidizing acid mixture and the analysis with the following three techniques: graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The complete and validated measurement method can be used to determine particle bound Pb, Cd, Ni and As in connection with the European Council Directive 2008/50/EG on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. Besides that the method can be used to determine further particle bound elements in different fractions of suspended particulate matter. In an overview the guideline shows the suitable analysis technique together with their typical lower working ranges for the determination of metals and metalloids as part of the suspended particulate matter (PM 10).