Lead (Pb) Monitoring Network
On this page:
- Background
- Sites and Data
- Quality Assurance and Other Guidance Documents
- Methods
- Tools and Other Resources
Background
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.
Sites and Data
The following links can be used to collect information on the number and locations of lead monitoring sites and to download monitoring data.
Quality Assurance and Other Guidance Documents
This section contains links to EPA guidance documents intended to assist monitoring agencies as they implement the Pb monitoring requirements.
- Pb Performance Evaluation Program (Pb-PEP)
- Pb Monitoring Quality Assurance Information
- Information on the National Contract for Lead Analysis
- Guidance on Network Design Issues
- Information on Pb Audit Strip Preparation
Methods
This section contains links to guidance on methods used in the Pb NAAQS monitoring network.
- Current List of Approved Pb FRM/FEMs
- Q&A on Pb sampling and analysis methods
- Generic Federal Equivalent Methods (FEMs) and SOPs
Tools and Other Resources
- AERMod post processor - A post-processing tool is available to calculate design values from monthly AERMOD output. This tool calculates and outputs the rolling cumulative (all sources) 3-month average concentration at each modeled receptor with source group contributions and the maximum cumulative (all sources) rolling 3-month average concentration by receptor.
