CERTIFICATION OF 2 HUMAN HAIR REFERENCE MATERIALS ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC-ENERGY AGENCY

Two new human hair reference materials, with different levels of mercu ry and methylmercury, have been developed and characterized by the Int ernational Atomic Energy Agency, for use in validation of measurements for mercury exposure. The set of materials consists of IAEA-086, with a low level of methylmercury, and IAEA-085, with an elevated methylme rcury level. An international intercomparison exercise was carried out , and 68 institutes from 40 countries have contributed data. Based on the evaluation of the results from the intercomparison and analyses by expert laboratories, values of 23.2 and 0.57 mg/kg total mercury are recommended for IAEA-085 and IAEA-086, respectively, Values for methyl mercury are recommended at 22.9 mg/kg, MeHg as Hg, for IAEA-085, and a t 0.26 mg/kg, MeHg as Hg, for IAEA-086. Recommended and information va lues are also given for other selected trace elements.