This International Standard specifies sampling, cleanup and analysis procedures for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in ambient air. It is designed to collect both gas-phase and particulate-phase PAH and to determine them collectively. It is a high-volume (100 l/min to 250 l/min) method capable of detecting 0,05 ng/m 3 or lower concentrations of PAH with sampling volumes up to 350 m3 . The method has been validated for sampling periods up to 24 h.
Precision under normal conditions can be expected to be +/- 25 % or better and uncertainty +/- 50 % or better (see annex A, Table A.1).
This International Standard describes a procedure for sampling and analysis for PAH that involves collection from air on a combination fine-particle filter and sorbent trap, and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).