Report on the 16th inter-laboratory comparison organised by the European Union Reference Laboratory for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons : four marker PAHs in smoked fish

This report presents the results of the sixteenth 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 fish. Both officially nominated National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and official food control laboratories (OCLs) of the EU Member States participated. In agreement with National Reference Laboratories, the test material used in this exercise was smoked herring. Participants also received a solution of PAHs in solvent of their choice (either toluene or acetonitrile) with known 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 fish was expressed by z-scores. Satisfactory performance with regard to z-scores was assigned to about 83 % of the reported results. JRC-IRMM is an ISO/IEC 17043 accredited provider of proficiency testing schemes and the respective rules were applied during all phases of this PT.