The European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP) is giving scientific and technical support to the implementation of air quality policy regarding measurements of air pollution.
It deals with the organisation of quality assurance programmes for the Member States' national reference laboratories and develops and validates innovative measurement techniques.
The need to refer to an independent laboratory on questions of air pollution monitoring led to the creation of the JRC's ERLAP in 1994.
The laboratory is now the Commission’s body responsible for organising European quality assurance programmes for air pollution measurements in line with requirements of the EU Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC.
ERLAP contributes to the development and correct implementation of Air Quality Directives in Europe in collaboration with the AQUILA Network and the Member States.
The highly specialised accredited laboratory works on the harmonisation and standardisation of measurement techniques, carries out measurement campaigns in areas of particular interest, analyses the chemical composition of toxic and carcinogenic compounds in air pollution and develops reference and equivalent measurement methods to provide support to the implementation and development of European air quality policy.
ERLAP organises inter-laboratory comparisons (ILC) several times per year, based on artificial or ambient test samples.
The range of atmospheric pollutants covered comprehends inorganic gases (SO2, NO, CO, O3), VOCs (incl. BTEX), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and some of their constituents (e.g. organic and elemental carbon, PAH, metals).
ERLAP offers physical access (participants come and measure online) and remote access (participants receive test samples at home) to its ILC facilities. Results are processed according to EN/ISO and proficiency testing guidelines.
These ILCs are part of quality assurance programmes carried out in collaboration with the AQUILA Network, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Air Quality Management and Air Pollution Control and under research infrastructure projects like the ACTRIS project.