M/232 - Heavy metals & metalloides
Emissions of Heavy metals & metalloides to the air
Mandate M/232 addresses the standardisation of methods related to emissions of heavy metals and metalloids to the air. It involves the European Commission issuing a request to European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) to develop harmonised standards for measuring and controlling airborne emissions of these substances. The decision pertains to the approval or disapproval of this mandate, referenced by resolution CEN/BT C178/1995. The objective is to ensure consistent and reliable monitoring and reduction of heavy metal and metalloid emissions to protect environmental and public health.
Purpose
This mandate concerns the development of standards related to the emissions of heavy metals and metalloids into the air. The objective is to address and regulate the environmental impact caused by the release of these substances, which can be harmful to human health and the environment.
Standardisation request
The mandate requests the European standardisation organisations to create standards that focus on measuring, monitoring, and controlling emissions of heavy metals and metalloids to the air. Such standards are intended to support regulatory frameworks and encourage consistent practices across the EU for assessing and reducing these emissions.
Expected deliverables
The expected deliverables include:
- Standardised methods for sampling and analyzing emissions of heavy metals and metalloids in ambient air.
- Guidance or specifications for monitoring emissions from industrial sources.
- Protocols for reporting and compliance verification to facilitate enforcement of environmental regulations.
Context
This mandate was established following the resolution referenced CEN/BT C178/1995. It reflects the European Union’s commitment to improving air quality by addressing pollutants such as heavy metals and metalloids known for their toxicity and persistence in the environment. The development of harmonised standards aims to provide a scientific basis for legislation and to promote public health and environmental protection across member states.
The mandate covers standardisation work related to the emissions of heavy metals and metalloids into the air, focusing on methods and procedures to measure, control, and manage air pollutants from these substances. It applies to environmental protection sectors dealing with air quality and emission monitoring.
General Information
This document specifies a manual reference method for the determination of the mass concentration of specific elements in stationary source emissions. The method is applicable to each of the specific elements in the concentration range of 0,005 mg/m3 to 5 mg/m3.
This document has been validated for the determination of the mass concentration of metals in incineration exhaust gases - applying the performance criteria stated in Clause 9 - for the following elements:
- arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V) and their compounds.
The document can be used to determine metals other than those listed above (for example, selenium (Se) (ISO 17211), tellurium (Te), beryllium (Be), tin (Sn) and zinc (Zn)).
NOTE 1 These other metals mentioned above are commonly required by National Regulations, but this document currently has not yet been validated for these metals.
The document was validated for waste incinerators, but it is also applicable to other industrial processes, the practical experience shows that it can be applied over wide concentration ranges and various emission sources.
If mercury is intended to be determined as well, this can be sampled in a side stream arrangement of the sampling train (EN 13211) [5].
NOTE 2 This document has been validated with the described materials, equipment, sampling, and digestion performances etc., followed by analyses with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES,) or inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This does not exclude the use of other types of equipment or analyses that meet the requirements and have been proven to be equivalent to the described European Standard.
- Standard74 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This document specifies a manual reference method for the determination of the mass concentration of specific elements in stationary source emissions. The method is applicable to each of the specific elements in the concentration range of 0,005 mg/m3 to 5 mg/m3.
This document has been validated for the determination of the mass concentration of metals in incineration exhaust gases - applying the performance criteria stated in Clause 9 - for the following elements:
- arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V) and their compounds.
The document can be used to determine metals other than those listed above (for example, selenium (Se) (ISO 17211), tellurium (Te), beryllium (Be), tin (Sn) and zinc (Zn)).
NOTE 1 These other metals mentioned above are commonly required by National Regulations, but this document currently has not yet been validated for these metals.
The document was validated for waste incinerators, but it is also applicable to other industrial processes, the practical experience shows that it can be applied over wide concentration ranges and various emission sources.
If mercury is intended to be determined as well, this can be sampled in a side stream arrangement of the sampling train (EN 13211) [5].
NOTE 2 This document has been validated with the described materials, equipment, sampling, and digestion performances etc., followed by analyses with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES,) or inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This does not exclude the use of other types of equipment or analyses that meet the requirements and have been proven to be equivalent to the described European Standard.
- Standard74 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies a manual reference method for the determination of the mass concentration of specific elements in exhaust gases from hazardous waste incinerators. The method is applicable to each of the specific elements in the concentration range of 0,005 mg/m3 to 0,5 mg/m3. Unless otherwise stated, gas volumes are expressed at dry conditions, normalised to 273 K and oxygen content 101,3 kPa, and normalized to a dry oxygen content of 11 % on the volume/volume basis.
Specific elements according to this European standard are antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V).
This European standard is validated for the determination of the mass concentration of specific ele-ments in incineration exhaust gases with the composition given in Table 1.
This European standard is also applicable for exhaust gases from other sources with a similar flue gas composition.
- Standard40 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies a manual reference method for the determination of the mass concentration of specific elements in exhaust gases from hazardous waste incinerators. The method is applicable to each of the specific elements in the concentration range of 0,005 mg/m3 to 0,5 mg/m3. Unless otherwise stated, gas volumes are expressed at dry conditions, normalised to 273 K and oxygen content 101,3 kPa, and normalized to a dry oxygen content of 11 % on the volume/volume basis.
Specific elements according to this European standard are antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V).
This European standard is validated for the determination of the mass concentration of specific ele-ments in incineration exhaust gases with the composition given in Table 1.
This European standard is also applicable for exhaust gases from other sources with a similar flue gas composition.
- Standard40 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Frequently Asked Questions
A European Standardization Mandate is a formal request from the European Commission to the European Standardization Organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) to develop European standards (ENs) in support of EU legislation and policies. Mandates are issued under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and help ensure that products and services meet the essential requirements set out in EU directives and regulations.
M/232 is a European Standardization Mandate titled "Emissions of Heavy metals & metalloides to the air". Emissions of Heavy metals & metalloides to the air There are 4 standards developed under this mandate.
Standards developed in response to a mandate and cited in the Official Journal of the European Union become "harmonized standards". Products manufactured in compliance with harmonized standards benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation, facilitating CE marking and market access across the European Economic Area.