Report on the 12th inter-laboratory comparison organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons : four marker PAHs in bivalve molluscs

This report presents the results of the twelfth inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (EURL PAHs) on the determination of the four EU marker PAHs, benz[a]anthracene (BAA), benzo[a]pyrene (BAP), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BBF) and chrysene (CHR), in bivalve moluscs, particularly in frozen and freeze dried (lyophilized) mussels. It was conducted under ISO Standard 17043 accreditation. In agreement with National Reference Laboratories, the test material used in this exercise were commercial products spiked with 4 markers PAHs and reference material provided by IAEA. Participants also received a solution of PAHs in solvent of their choice (either toluene or acetonitrile) with disclosed content for the verification of their instrument calibration. Reference values were used to benchmark the results reported by participants, Both officially nominated National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and official food control laboratories (OCLs) of the EU Member States were admitted as participants. The participants were free to choose the method of analysis. The performance of the participating laboratories in the determination of the target PAHs in frozen and freeze dried mussels was expressed by z-scores. Satisfactory performance with regard to z-scores was assigned to about 82 % of the reported results.