Report on the 15th inter-laboratory comparison organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons : four marker PAHs in smoked meat

This report presents the results of the fifteenth inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (EURL PAH) 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 smoked meat. It was conducted under ISO 17043 accreditation. Both officially nominated National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and official food control laboratories (OCLs) of the EU Member States were admitted as participants. In agreement with National Reference Laboratories, the test material used in this exercise was smoked sausage. 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. The participants were free to choose the method of analysis. Reference values were used to benchmark the results reported by participants. The performance of the participating laboratories in the determination of the target PAHs in smoked meat was expressed by z-scores. Satisfactory performance with regard to z-scores was assigned to about 93% of the reported results.