PM10 Sampler Bias

Accurate measurement of particulate matter (PM) concentrations in ambient air is becoming increasingly important as regulatory agencies continue to enforce more stringent limits on PM concentrations to which the public may be exposed.  Proper operating conditions of the federal reference method (FRM) samplers are critical to obtaining accurate measurements.  Previous research has indicated changing weather conditions would affect the flow rate of FRM samplers as much as 15% of the recommended flow rate.  The objective of this research is to determine the actual cut-point and slope of EPA approved FRM PM₁₀ samplers using the controlled conditions of a wind tunnel with poly-disperse dusts having varying particle size distributions (PSDs) at different wind speeds and sampler flow rates.