Worldwide intercomparison on the determination of chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons in a mussel tissue homogenate, IAEA‐142

Abstract

A mussel tissue homogenate, labelled IAEA‐142, was used as an intercomparison sample for the analyses of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and petroleum hydrocarbons. The sample material was analysed by 95 laboratories in 54 countries, which represents the widest participation ever obtained in an interlaboratory comparison exercise for synthetic organic contaminants in marine samples. The results reported by the laboratories show that there are still some difficulties with the accurate determination of organic contaminants such as pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). More consistent interlaboratory results were obtained for PCB congeners. Nevertheless, in this exercise many laboratories reported results in close agreement and, after statistical screening of the data, consensus values were obtained for the concentration of several analytes in this sample. These results allowed for assigning reference concentration values for these analytes and, thus, the sample IAEA‐142 can be used as a reference material for quality control of data in the determination of chlorinated compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons in biological samples. Furthermore, with respect to the matrix type and contaminants certified this sample is unique in the collection of reference materials available today.