The preparation, testing and certification of two freshwater sediment reference materials for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls: BCR CRM 535 and CRM 536

Within the framework of the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme o f the European Commission, a certification campaign was conducted for two f reshwater sediment reference materials for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls, respectively. The sediments were collected from a Dutch river, dried, ground, homogenized, packed and tested on stabil ity and homogeneity. The materials were then analyzed by a group of laborat ories with proven competence in the field. The contents of seven PAHs (pyre ne, benz(a)anthracene, benzo( a)pyrene, benzo( e)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthe ne, benzo( k)fluoranthene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene) were certified in one material (CRM 535), and the contents of 13 PCBs (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 1 05, 118, 128, 138, 149, 153, 156, 163, 170 and 180) in the other (CRM 536). The materials are available from the Community Bureau of Reference of the European Commission (BCR) to all laboratories that want to validate their P AH or PCB methods for trueness. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.