The evaluation of the Interlaboratory comparison Exercise for SO2, CO, O3, NO and NO2 : 14.-17. June 2010

From the 14th to the 17th of June 2010 in Ispra (IT), 9 Laboratories of AQUILA (Network of European Air Quality Reference Laboratories) met at an interlaboratory comparison exercise to evaluate their proficiency in the analysis of inorganic gaseous pollutants covered by European Directive about air quality (SO2, CO, NO, NO2 and O3). The proficiency evaluation, where each participant's bias was compared to two criteria, provides information on the current situation and capabilities to the European Commission and can be used by participants in their quality control system. On the basis of criteria imposed by the European Commission, 85% of the results reported by AQUILA laboratories were good both in terms of measured values and reported uncertainties. Another 12% of the results had good measured values, but the reported uncertainties were either too high (8%) or too small (4%). Comparability of results among AQUILA participants at the highest concentration level, excluding outliers, is acceptable in NO, CO and O3 measurements while NO2 and SO2 measurement methods showed less satisfactory results.