Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC)
Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) are key components of PM2.5, the fine fraction of the air-suspended particulate matter. Their measurement is required by the European Air Quality Directive (2008/50/EC). OC and EC concentrations are also part of the core variables listed by the co-operative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe (EMEP) and the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds, Trace Gases Research Infra-Structure).
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has been supporting the quality of total carbon (TC = OC + EC), OC and EC measurement data across Europe for almost 2 decades. In particular, it has been organising, running, analysing, and reporting about yearly inter-laboratory comparisons for the measurement of TC, OC and EC in PM2.5 samples deposited on filters for more than 15 years. These ILCs involved the scientific community, members of international and national monitoring networks[PJ(1] , National Reference Laboratories, and instrument manufacturers
