This report provides information of quality assurance for PM2.5 sampling activities from October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2016. The mission of the project comprises implementation of inspection, performance audit, and collocated comparison for field sampling and lab analyzing, so that requirements and goals for PM2.5 monitoring will be fulfilled. The task mainly included: (1) auditing the field PM2.5 manual monitoring (2) performing inspection of lab analyzing and weighting system (3) conducting collocation comparison programs (4) integrating and validating monitoring data collected from three contracted laboratories The performance audit used independent instruments and standards to inspect the deviation between the monitoring value and the standard value (accuracy). 369 stations were completed in two years, and out of the total of 2214 items audited. The acceptance rate was 99.2%. In addition, 124 stations, 7 items of procedure check for field operators were also included. And must follow up tracking the results of defects improvement. A quality system check for laboratory refers to the organizational resources, processes and procedures to implement quality management. 24 Lab system audits and 3 inter-lab weighting comparisons have been accomplished in two years. Only one of the comparisons failed to meet the requirement. The semi-annual collocation measurement is mainly based on the published method NIEA A205.11C by EPA Environmental analysis laboratory, to enhance the reliability of monitoring data. Four times of collocated measurement between standard instruments were conducted in two years, and precision showed between 0.8%~2.02% which were all meet the requirement. 246 field stations collocated comparisons were done in two years. 236 times valid comparisons were under circumstances of PM2.5 concentrations greater than 3μg/m3. 0μg/m3~±1μg/m3 of concentration bios indicate a high credibility of PM2.5 manual monitoring data. Data verification and validation were mainly focus on worksheet filling, concentration calculations and quality management of laboratory, to meet the requirement of NIEA method.7,528 pieces of data validations were carried out in this project. Among these data, 191 were marked “sample failed”, 7 were marked “quality assurance failure”, and 76 were marked “not executed sample.” The overall rate of available data is 96.4 %. All defects from field performance audit and Lab check will be require to improve within certain days discussed in monthly routine data reviewing meeting, The EPA and this project will track situation of defects improvement.

Fine Particulate Matters, Field Check, Collocated Measurement