Multielement quantification and Pb isotope analysis of the certified reference material ERM-CZ120 for fine particulate matter

Abstract

for the mass concentration of PM2.5: 35 μg/m 3 in 24 h or 12 μg/m3 in 1 year in the USA (USEPA, 2013), 25 μg/m3 in 1 year in Europe (EC, 2008), and 35 μg/m3 in 24 h or 15 μg/m3 in 1 year in Japan (Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ), 2009). Chemical analysis of fine PM can provide information about its health hazard factors and generation mechanisms; this is important to effectively regulate and reduce hazardous fine PM emissions. Generally, PM includes ionic, organic, and metallic element components. Unlike the organic and ionic components, PM’s metallic elements do not change by reaction with gas or decomposition during transportation in the air. Many studies have taken advantage of this by using PM’s metallic elemental composition as a fingerprint of the source (e.g., Sudheer and Rengarajan, 2012). The metallic element analysis quality needs to be validated to guarantee the reliability of the PM source analysis. One Multielement quantification and Pb isotope analysis of the certified reference material ERM-CZ120 for fine particulate matter