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Trueness, precision, and detectability for sampling and analysis of organic species in airborne particulate matter

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Abstract

Recovery, precision, limits of detection and quantitation, blank levels, calibration linearity, and agreement with certified reference materials were determined for two classes of organic components of airborne particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hopanes, using typical sampling and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis methods. These determinations were based on initial method proficiency tests and on-going internal quality control procedures. Recoveries generally ranged from 75% to 85% for all target analytes and collocated sample precision estimates were generally better than 20% for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and better than 25% for hopanes. Results indicated substantial differences in data quality between the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hopanes. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons demonstrated better collocated precision, lower method detection limits, lower blank levels, and better agreement with certified reference materials than the hopanes. The most serious area of concern was the disagreement between measured and expected values in the standard reference material for hopanes. With this exception, good data quality was demonstrated for all target analytes on all other data quality indicators.

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The United States Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development funded and managed the research described here. It has been subjected to the Agency’s administrative review and approved for publication.

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  1. National Exposure Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA

    John M. Turlington, David A. Olson, Leonard Stockburger & Stephen R. McDow

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  1. John M. Turlington
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  2. David A. Olson
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  3. Leonard Stockburger
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  4. Stephen R. McDow
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Correspondence to Stephen R. McDow.

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Turlington, J.M., Olson, D.A., Stockburger, L. et al. Trueness, precision, and detectability for sampling and analysis of organic species in airborne particulate matter. Anal Bioanal Chem 397, 2451–2463 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3833-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3833-2

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