METHODS FOR CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS OF CONTAMINATED SOIL SAMPLES - TESTS OFTHEIR REPRODUCIBILITY BETWEEN NORDIC LABORATORIES

In an effort to develop common analytical methods for contaminated soi l samples the Environmental Authorities of the Nordic countries have, together with Nordtest, published the report Nordic Guidelines for Che mical Analysis of Contaminated Soil Samples. The aim of these guidelin es has been to describe analytical methods which could be accepted in all the Nordic countries and in that way contribute to reducing the va riation in the analytical results between laboratories. The methods co vered, reflects environmental concerns and priorities in the Nordic co untries for now, i.e, heavy metals, chlorophenols, creosote, volatile organic compounds, PCB, THC and PAH. The repeatability and reproducibi lity of the guideline methods were determined in a Nordic inter-labora tory test in 1996, and the results showed some variations. The analyti cal methods and the results from the inter-laboratory tests are given for heavy metals, chlorophenols, creosote, volatile organic compounds and PCB. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.