Sample Luminance as an Equivalent Method for PM2.5 Mass Concentration Determination
The aim of the presented work was to develop simple and low cost method for PM2.5 mass concentration determination in order to substitute tedious sample conditioning and weighing procedures. The method should be used as an equivalent method in case that numerous additional measuring sites are needed in order to provide the data on particulate air pollution for specific purposes and is not intended to be used for regular monitoring.
This investigation was performed using the sets of PM2.5 samples collected at five measuring sites in Zagreb, Croatia during the 2005 and 2006 measuring periods (~ 3600 24-hour samples). Sampling was performed by means of LVS in accordance to the standard gravimetric method described in European standard EN 14907. The luminosity of samples was determined by two different methods and results were recalculated and compared to the detected PM2.5 mass concentrations. Site by site and seasonal differences were investigated.