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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Automated, High-resolution Mobile Collection System for the Nitrogen Isotopic Analysis of NOx
Published on: December 20, 2016
Nitrous acid interference with passive NO2 measurement methods and the impact on indoor NO2 data
C W Spicer1, I H Billick, Y Yanagisawa
1Atmospheric Science and Applied Technology Department, Battelle, 505 King Avenue, Colombus, Ohio 43201, USA. spicerc@battelle.org
Abstract:
Recent research has demonstrated that nitrous acid (HONO) is produced in indoor environments by NO2 reacting with interior surfaces, and is also emitted directly by some combustion sources. We have recently characterized the interference by HONO to NO2 measurements made by several commonly used continuous NO2 monitors. This paper reports on the effect of HONO on NO2 measurements made by passive sampling devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate this interference, and the accuracy and precision of passive samplers used for indoor NO2 measurements. We report that HONO interferes quantitatively with three of the four NO2 passive samplers tested.
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