Comparison of continuous monitor (TEOM) and gravimetric sampler particulate matter concentrations
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abstract
Tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) samplers may offer significant advantages to state air pollution regulatory agencies and air quality researchers in terms of reduced labor and data processing requirements through an automated particulate matter (PM) monitoring system. However, previous research has shown that TEOM samplers may not report accurate PM concentrations due to the operating characteristics of the automated system. This article presents the results of a multiyear study using collocated TEOM and gravimetric samplers configured to measure TSP concentrations from a Texas cattle feedlot. The objective of this work was to define the relationship between PM concentrations measured by TEOM and gravimetric samplers and characterize the influence of concentration intensity and particle size on that relationship. The results show that there was a significant positive linear relationship between the concentrations measured by the TEOM and gravimetric TSP samplers (p-values < 0.001). It was observed that in general, the TEOM samplers reported lower TSP concentrations than the collocated gravimetric TSP sampler. Further investigation into these results indicated that the difference in the concentration measured by the TEOM sampler versus the gravimetric TSP sampler (known as the TEOM measurement error) is correlated with the concentration measured by the gravimetric TSP sampler, but the nature of that relationship varies by location. However, linear relationships were observed between the measurement error of the TEOM samplers and the mass median diameter and geometric standard deviation of the collocated gravimetric TSP sample.
