NPL REPORT ENV 4 Annual report for 2014 on the UK PAH Monitoring and Analysis Network Report to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Department of Environment Northern Ireland; the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government Jordan Tompkins Sonya Beccaceci Sharon L. Goddard Delwar Hussain Isabel Hessey Richard J. C. Brown Paul G. Quincey Kevin Whiteside Paul Hughey Stuart Brennan OCTOBER 2015 NPL Report ENV 4 NPL Report ENV 4 Annual Report for 2014 on the UK PAH Monitoring and Analysis Network Report to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Department of Environment Northern Ireland; the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government Jordan Tompkins, Sonya Beccaceci, Sharon L. Goddard, Delwar Hussain, Isabel Hessey, Richard J. C. Brown, Paul G. Quincey, Kevin Whiteside, Paul Hughey, Stuart Brennan Environment Division NPL Report ENV 4 NPL Management Limited, 2015 ISSN 2059-6030 National Physical Laboratory Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW Extracts from this report may be reproduced provided the source is acknowledged and the extract is not taken out of context. Approved on behalf of NPLML by Jane Burston, Head of Environment Division NPL Report ENV 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This annual report for 2014 for the UK PAH Monitoring and Analysis Network was prepared by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Department of Environment Northern Ireland; the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government. The report contains: The measured annual (and where applicable, monthly or quarterly) mean concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) at each Network station, and at each TOMPs Network station. Selected results from other PAHs at selected Network stations. A comparison of the B[a]P annual mean concentrations against the target value and assessment thresholds in the EC Fourth Daughter Directive. A comparison of the performance of Network operation against the relevant data quality objectives in the Fourth Daughter Directive. An overview of the PAH Network, including a summary of Network operation, a description of notable station maintenance issues and changes to the Network during 2014, and data capture statistics for 2014. A review of the sources of PAHs in the UK. A discussion of PAH concentration trends across the Network and the effect of gaseous oxidants on the annual measured concentrations. A summary of scientific research, international representation and other activities related to the Network. In summary, during 2014: The EC target value for B[a]P (an annual mean concentration of 1 ng m-3) was exceeded at two of the 31 stations where PM10 particulate samples were taken. Below the EC target value (1 ng m-3) but above the EC upper assessment threshold for B[a]P (an annual mean concentration of 0.6 ng m-3) were a total of four of the 31 stations. Below the EC upper assessment threshold (0.6 ng m-3) but above the EC lower assessment threshold for B[a]P (an annual mean concentration of 0.4 ng m-3) were a total of three of the 31 stations. The annual mean B[a]P concentrations in 2014 did not show a significant change from those measured in 2013. NPL Report ENV 4 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS & AIR QUALITY POLICY .................... 2 2.1 POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS ...................................................................... 2 2.2 AIR QUALITY POLICY ............................................................................................................... 3 2.3 SOURCES OF PAHS IN THE UK ................................................................................................ 3 3 THE NETWORK ........................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 NETWORK OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................... 5 3.2 NETWORK OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................. 5 3.2.1 Stations ............................................................................................................................... 5 3.2.2 Samples ............................................................................................................................... 6 3.2.3 Sampling equipment ........................................................................................................... 7 3.2.4 Sampling quality control measures ..................................................................................... 9 3.2.5 Relationship with TOMPs Network samples ................................................................... 10 3.3 NETWORK ACTIVITIES DURING 2014 ................................................................................. 10 3.3.1 Station infrastructure and Network re-organisation.......................................................... 10 3.3.2 Station audits and calibrations .......................................................................................... 10 3.3.3 Equipment servicing, breakdowns, and station maintenance ........................................... 11 4 DATA CAPTURE ........................................................................................................................ 12 4.1 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 12 4.2 DATA CAPTURE VALUES ....................................................................................................... 12 5 ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................... 14 5.1 PAHS MEASURED .................................................................................................................... 14 5.2 ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES .................................................................................................. 14 5.3 ANALYTICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE & QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES ................ 15 6 RESULTS & DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 16 6.1 ‘A’ (PARTICULATE) & ‘B’ (PARTICULATE + VAPOUR) SAMPLES ................................ 16 6.1.1 B[a]P annual concentrations and comparison against target values and air quality objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 16 6.1.2 B[a]P: Monthly concentrations ......................................................................................... 18 6.1.3 Other PAHs: Monthly concentrations .............................................................................. 23 6.1.4 Interpretation of high measured PAH concentrations in 2014 ......................................... 27 6.2 DEPOSITION (‘C’) SAMPLES .................................................................................................. 31 6.3 ANDERSEN SAMPLES FROM TOMPS NETWORK .............................................................. 31 7 TRENDS IN MEASURED DATA .............................................................................................. 32 7.1 UK TRENDS IN B[A]P CONCENTRATION DATA (2007-2014) ........................................... 32 8 OTHER ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE NETWORK ...................................................... 33 8.1 STANDARDISATION & OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES ..................................... 33 8.2 PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS ............................................................................................ 34 ANNEX A: NETWORK STATION LOCATIONS .......................................................................... 35 ANNEX B: SUMMARY OF EQUIPMENT SERVICING, BREAKDOWN AND MAINTENANCE ISSUES DURING 2014 ................................................................................. 36 ANNEX C: MONTHLY & ANNUAL MEAN B[A]P CONCENTRATIONS – ‘A’ & ‘B’ STATIONS .................................................................................................................................... 37 ANNEX D: MONTHLY & ANNUAL MEAN B[A]P CONCENTRATIONS – ‘C’ (DEPOSITION) STATIONS ....................................................................................................... 38 ANNEX E: QUARTERLY & ANNUAL MEAN B[A]P CONCENTRATIONS – TOMPS NETWORK SAMPLES ............................................................................................................... 39 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 40 NPL Report ENV 4 1 INTRODUCTION This report was prepared by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) as part of the 2010-2014 UK PAH Monitoring and Analysis Network (‘the Network’ or ‘the PAH Network’) contract number AQ0636 with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Department of Environment Northern Ireland; the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government. NPL assumed full operation of the Network in October 2010 following a one month handover period from the previous contractor. This annual report therefore presents and discusses data from NPL’s third full year as operator of the Network. This annual report contains: An introduction to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons