Laboratory and field measurements of a badge type passive sampler for the determination of ambient sulfur dioxide concentrations

The performance of a badge type passive sampler for the determination of sulfur dioxide is described. The trapping agent is triethanolamine. Analysis is performed by ion chromatography. Thus, the method allows the simultaneous detection of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The sampler was tested in the laboratory and in the field. The intercomparison with independent methods in the field showed very good agreement against two active sampling methods. Regression analyses (the results of the passive sampler always represent the y-axes) gave r² = 0.81 and k = 1.07 ± 0.01 for the intercomparison with an annular denuder technique and r² = 0.92 and k = 0.96 ± 0.01 for the intercomparison with a commercial fluorescence sulfur dioxide analyzer. The average reproducibility in the field was 7% (RSD). The detection limit was 0.18 μg SO₂/m³ for an exposure time of two weeks. Received: 9 February 1998 / Revised: 22 June 1998 / Accepted: 26 June 1998