Abstract
Evaluation of the performance of air sampling instruments in field situations is a complex problem involving many components. These include aspects of the engineering design of the sampler, the physical properties of the environment being sampled, and methods for controlling and measuring instrument bias and imprecision. The broad range of air sampling designs and environments of possible interest precludes the development of a single set of field evaluation methods that could be uniformly applied in all situations. However, there are several basic underlying principles that must be considered in any field evaluation problem. This article discusses these principles and summarizes appropriate statistical methods available to assess them. An example of the application of these methods in practice is presented, based on the recent field implementation of an ambient acid aerosol monitor by New York University Medical Center. Kinney, P.L.; Thurston, G.D.: Field Evaluation of Instrument Performance: Statistical Considerations. Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 8(4):267-271; 1993.