Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC)
Lead Monitoring
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On November 12, 2008 EPA substantially strengthened the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead (see 73 FR 66964 (PDF) (99pp, 665k)). EPA revised the level of the primary (health-based) standard from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) to 0.15 µg/m3, measured as total suspended particles (TSP) and revised the secondary (welfare-based) standard to be identical in all respects to the primary standard. In conjunction with strengthening the lead (Pb) NAAQS, the EPA promulgated new monitoring requirements.
The following documents are intended to assist monitoring agencies as they work to implement the new Pb monitoring requirements.
Network Design and Monitoring Siting
- Final Revisions to the Pb Monitoring Network Requirements (PDF) (13pp, 199k)
- Network design Issues (PDF) (6pp, 111k)
- Modeling of Pb sources (PDF) (6pp, 114k)
- AERMOD post processer to calculate maximum 3-month rolling average (ZIP) (10.3 MB)
- Review of Pb Emission Inventories (PDF) (3pp, 99k)
- 2005 Pb National Emission Inventory
- Estimating Pb Emissions from Coal Combustion Sources (PDF) (3pp, 53k)
Sampling and Analysis
- National Contract for Lead Analysis QAPP (PDF) (351pp, 12.0 MB)
- National Contract for Lead Analysis Q and A (PDF) (3pp, 102k)
- Pb sampling methods (PDF) (3pp, 90k)
- Pb analysis methods (PDF) (2pp, 30k)
- Quality Assurance (PDF) (6pp, 166k)
- Pb Performance Evaluation Program
- Missouri Pb Audit Strip SOP (PDF) (18pp, 104k)
- RTI Pb Analysis Audit Spiking SOP (Teflon Filters) (PDF) (11pp, 107k)
- RTI Pb Analysis Audit Spiking SOP (TSP Filters) (PDF) (11pp, 182k)
- Generic ICPMS FEM SOP (EQL-0310-189) (PDF) (18pp, 44k)
- Generic ICP-AES FEM SOP (EQL-0311-196) (PDF) (24pp, 213k)
- Generic ICPMS FEM SOP (EQL-0510-191) (PDF) (22pp, 192k)
- Generic ICPMS FEM SOP (EQL-0710-192) (PDF) (22pp, 120k)
- Generic ICPMS FEM SOP Pb TSP (EQL-0512-201) (PDF) (31pp, 136k)
- Generic ICPMS FEM SOP Pb PM10 (EQL-0512-202) (PDF) (28pp, 135k)
- Sample Chain of Custody Form (Excel spreadsheet) (23k)
- Sample Chain of Custody Form (PDF) (1pg, 14k)
Data Reporting
- Reporting Pb data to AQS (PDF) (7pp, 53k)
For additional information, please contact Kevin Cavender of the Air Quality Assessment Division, Ambient Air Monitoring Group, 919-541-2364, cavender.kevin@epa.gov.