DIN EN 15852:2010-11

The standard DIN EN 15852 specifies a validated method for the determination of the total gaseous mercury (TGM) in ambient air which can be used within the framework of the European Council Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe and the Fourth Daughter Directive. The requirements the method has to meet in accordance with the EU Directives are specified in this European Standard. The description of the method includes the sampling and TGM analysis using Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) or Cold Vapour Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (CVAFS). The performance characteristics given in this standard have been determined in comparative field validation tests. The field tests have been carried out for two months at four European measurement locations (in Belgium, Italy, Sweden and Spain) over a period of one year. The measurements have been carried out using automated equipment currently used in Europe for determination of TGM in ambient air. The tests showed the suitability of the method for the determination of total gaseous mercury in at rural, urban and industrial sites. The execution of the field trial validation tests has been funded by the EU and EFTA. The working range of the method covers the range of ambient air concentrations of less than 2 ng/m³ which are typically found in background sites, up to those found at industrial sites where higher concentrations are expected. A maximum daily average of up to 300 ng/m³ has been measured during field trials. The European Standard has been prepared by CEN/TC 264/WG 25 "Mercury measurement methods in ambient air and deposition". On the national level the responsible Committee is Subcommittee NA 134-04-02-10 UA "Messen von Metallen und Halbmetallen (I)" ("Measurement of metals and semimetals (I)") of KRdL at VDI and DIN.