CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CADMIUM IN POLYETHYLENE

Four polyethylene reference materials with cadmium concentrations in t he range of 40 to 400 mg/kg have been certified by IRMM on behalf of V erband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA), Frankfurt, Germany. The homo geneity of the materials was verified using Solid Sampling Zeeman Atom ic Absorption Spectrometry (SS-ZAAS). Their cadmium content was determ ined by Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) using a quadrupole t hermal ionization mass spectrometer. The certified uncertainties were about 3% relative and correspond to confidence levels of 95%; they tak e into account all contributions of statistical and systematic nature. The material was used within the scope of IRMM's International Measur ement Evaluation Programme (IMEP).