Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2018 to Question 137401, what the parameters are within which something classifies as particulate matter.

The answer to Question 137401 referred to total particulate matter (TPM) which is measured continuously at incinerators by their continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). TPM CEMS have to be calibrated by carrying out periodic sampling known as a reference method (i.e. the most accurate method) side-by-side with the continuous monitoring, and then adjusting the results obtained from the CEMS according to the results obtained by periodic sampling. The reference method for dust (another term for TPM) is set out in the British/European Standard BS EN 13284-1. It is therefore appropriate to refer to the definition in BS EN 13284-1 for dust in order to define TPM, which reads as follows:

“dust

particles, of any shape, structure or density, dispersed in the gas phase at the sampling point conditions which may be collected by filtration under specified conditions after representative sampling of the gas to be analysed, and which remain upstream of the filter and on the filter after drying under specified conditions.”