What is BS EN 16868 – Volumetric Hirst method about?
BS EN 16868 discusses ambient air with a focus on airborne allergens such as pollen grains and fungal spores. BS EN 16868 specifies the procedures to sample continuously and to analyze the concentration of airborne pollen grains and fungal spores in ambient air using the volumetric Hirst type sampler or an even equivalent method assuring comparable data.
BS EN 16868 describes both the sampling and the analysis procedures for the purpose of networks related to allergy. For the other tasks, other specifications may be required.
Who is BS EN 16868 - Volumetric Hirst method for?
BS EN 16868 on sampling and analysis of airborne and pollen grains is useful for:
- Institutions involved in pollen forecasting
- Testing laboratories
- Health and safety personnel
- Aerobiologists
Other fields of application that could benefit from BS EN 16868 include biodiversity, agriculture, forestry, phytopathology, meteorology, climatology, paleoecology, paleo-climatology, forensic science, bioterrorism, and health.
Why should you use BS EN 16868 Volumetric Hirst method?
Biological particles (pollen and fungal spores) are present in the air, causing health impacts at various levels. A pollen forecast is a guideline for allergen avoidance with a direct influence on pollen allergy sufferers and their behavior. Pollen allergy sufferers need such information since pollen allergy affects their quality of life and pollen and spores are an abundant, environmental allergen.
Volumetric Hirst-type method is the most widespread method for continuous quantification of airborne pollen. BS EN 16868 describes both the sampling and the analysis procedures of this method for the purposes of networks related to allergy. BS EN 16868 provides guidelines for important aspects of forecast such as maintenance of the device, preparation, evaluation, handling, and processing of data. This is important because the health state of pollen allergy sufferers should never be risked due to inadequate forecasts, financial interests, or deficient working routines applied in fundamental work such as pollen data evaluation.
Using guidelines to implement the volumetric Hirst method, you can provide useful information to pollen allergy sufferers.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 16868-2019 supersedes CEN/TS 16868:2015. BS EN 16868-2019 includes some editorial and technical changes with reference to CEN/TS 16868:2015.
These include:
- The title has been changed
- Modifications have been made to all annexes
- Figures D.2 and D.3 have been modified
- The bibliography has been readjusted
- Editorial changes have been made
