Joint Research Project env08 “Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC”

Julie Cabillic,Maria Belli,Mine Bilsel,Ahmet Ceyhan Goren,Taner Gokçen,Rosemarie Philipp,Mirella Buzuianu,Monica Potalivo,Sebastian Hein,Petra Lehnik-Habrink,Elisa Calabretta,Ileana Crina,Beatrice Lalere

doi:10.1051/metrology/201310001

Abstract

The Joint Research Project ENV08 “Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC” is a multi-partner trans-national project within the targeted call “Environment” of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP). The EMRP represents a metrology-focused European programme of coordinated research and development that facilitates closer integration of national research programmes. ENV08 deals with the grand challenges for multidisciplinary metrology in environment meeting “the most urgent industrial and societal needs” as stated in the EMRP Outline 2008. The project aims to provide reference methods capable of analysing priority hazardous substances specified in the WFD at the proposed low environmental quality standard concentrations in the body of ground, surface and coastal waters. In addition, ENV08 will answer the need for accuracy and comparability of measurements for the end users capabilities assessment by developing concepts for reference materials. ENV08 is coordinated by BAM (Germany) and involves 14 European institutes. Five institutes work on the development of a validated measurement procedure for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in whole water samples at a concentration level required by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD).

Highlights

The control of water pollution is an important issue with a large impact on human health and the environment
Five institutes work on the development of a validated measurement procedure for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in whole water samples at a concentration level required by the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)
Some European harmonized methods are already available through CEN/TC230 “Water analysis” and ISO/TC147 “Water quality” for a large number of substances but all are not compatible with the WFD in terms of the limit of quantification (LOQ) and applicability to whole water sample

Summary

Background

The control of water pollution is an important issue with a large impact on human health and the environment. Both are essential to provide traceability of the test laboratories results and to assure EU-wide comparable measurement results for waters assessments as required in the WFD. It requires the water quality monitoring to be performed by methods that are in line with the CEN/ISO standards or with other national or international standards. The research work will provide the metrological basis for the WFD implementation by developing primary reference methods and concepts for the production of reference materials for selected priority hazardous substances analysis: TBT, PBDE and PAH This presentation will focus on the development of measurement methods for PAH in whole water sample

Motivation and objectives

Development of measurement methods for PAHs in whole water sample

Optimisation of the chromatographic separation

LC-APPI-MS2

Liquid liquid extraction

Solid phase extraction

Development of measurement methods for PAH in the particulate matter

Findings

Development of measurement methods for PAHs in whole water