Evaluation of the Laboratory Comparison Exercise for SO2, CO, O3, NO and NO2, 7th-10th October 2013 Ispra

Within the harmonization program of Air Quality monitoring in Europe ERLAP Laboratories are organizing Inter-Laboratory Comparison in the facility of Ispra (Italy). From the 7th to the 10th of October 2013 in Ispra (IT), nine Laboratories of AQUILA (Network of European Air Quality Reference Laboratories) met for a laboratory comparison exercise to evaluate their proficiency in the analysis of inorganic gaseous pollutants. In order to cover the prescription of the European Directive about air quality these pollutants were measured: SO2, CO, NO, NO2 and O3. The proficiency evaluation, where each participant’s bias was compared to two criteria, provides information on the current situation and capabilities to the European Commission and can be used by participants in their quality control system. On the basis of criteria imposed by the European Commission, 86.8% of the results reported by AQUILA laboratories were good both in terms of measured values and reported uncertainties. Part of the results (12.5%) had good measured values, but the reported uncertainties were either too high (8.9%) or too small (3.6%).Only two values (0.8%) were found with unsatisfactory En number. Comparability of results among AQUILA participants at the highest concentration level, excluding outliers, is acceptable for all pollutants measurements.JRC.H.2-Air and Climat