The certification of the concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water : ERM®-CA100 : certification report

This report describes the production of ERM®-CA100, a surface water material certified for the concentrations of naphthalene, anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. The material was produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. Between unit-homogeneity was quantified and stability during dispatch and storage were assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006 . The material was characterised by an intercomparison among laboratories of demonstrated competence and adhering to ISO/IEC 17025. Technically invalid results were removed but no outlier was eliminated on statistical grounds only. Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 "Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM:1995)" ; the total estimated uncertainty includes uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity, instability and characterisation. The material is intended for use in the quality control and assessment of method performance. As any reference material, it can also be used for control charts or validation studies. The CRM is available in a unit kit that includes a plastic container with at least 1000 mL of surface water, an amber glass ampoule with at least 24 mL humic acids solution and an amber glass ampoule with at least 2 mL polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons solution. A reconstitution protocol must be strictly followed to obtain the final CRM. The CRM was accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.