Integrating EPA sampling Protocols into ISO 17025 Standards for Consistency of Quality of Data for Ambient Air Monitoring Field Laboratories.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by M. Wicking-Baird
Argos Scientific Inc., 17 Ilkley Crescent, Seapoint, Western Cape, 8005, South Africa
Contact Information: mwbaird@argos-sci.com; 415-890-6137
ABSTRACT
There is a growth in community based air quality monitoring networks with more private stakeholders becoming involved in producing and consuming air quality data. The objective of these monitoring stations is to assess the impact of air quality in communities that are near major sources of pollution. The conversation amongst stakeholders involved in such systems should be “Are we safe”, “How can we improve air quality?” Answering these questions on data validity presents a challenge as there is no immediate mechanism for certifying or accrediting the systems measuring the data. The same issues persist with monitoring stations operated internationally by local companies.
This paper presents how a generic framework for validating data from community air monitoring stations can be achieved by relying on the international accreditation network that is the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Integral this process is integrating methodologies presented in US EPA: Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement within an ISO 17025 quality framework to operate a network of accredited monitoring stations as field laboratories. Once the framework is created, the QA/QC protocols can be applied consistently to similar community monitoring stations anywhere in the world. The standardization of the QA/QC protocols for community air monitoring stations ie “field laboratories”. The benefit of this approach is it addresses the critical questions associated with data quality presented by local community as well as standardizing the process by which community monitoring stations can be integrated into the global business community. The paper will present a real-world example of a community monitoring station that was accredited as a field analytic laboratory.
Oral Presentation
Prepared by M. Wicking-Baird
Argos Scientific Inc., 17 Ilkley Crescent, Seapoint, Western Cape, 8005, South Africa
Contact Information: mwbaird@argos-sci.com; 415-890-6137
ABSTRACT
There is a growth in community based air quality monitoring networks with more private stakeholders becoming involved in producing and consuming air quality data. The objective of these monitoring stations is to assess the impact of air quality in communities that are near major sources of pollution. The conversation amongst stakeholders involved in such systems should be “Are we safe”, “How can we improve air quality?” Answering these questions on data validity presents a challenge as there is no immediate mechanism for certifying or accrediting the systems measuring the data. The same issues persist with monitoring stations operated internationally by local companies.
This paper presents how a generic framework for validating data from community air monitoring stations can be achieved by relying on the international accreditation network that is the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Integral this process is integrating methodologies presented in US EPA: Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement within an ISO 17025 quality framework to operate a network of accredited monitoring stations as field laboratories. Once the framework is created, the QA/QC protocols can be applied consistently to similar community monitoring stations anywhere in the world. The standardization of the QA/QC protocols for community air monitoring stations ie “field laboratories”. The benefit of this approach is it addresses the critical questions associated with data quality presented by local community as well as standardizing the process by which community monitoring stations can be integrated into the global business community. The paper will present a real-world example of a community monitoring station that was accredited as a field analytic laboratory.
