ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIMEN BANKING IN THE CZECH-REPUBLIC - A PILOT-STUDY

In recognition of the importance of environmental specimen banking (ES B) as an important component of the described ongoing real-time enviro nmental and heath-related monitoring programmes, a proposal for a plan ned ESB pilot study in the Czech Republic is presented. Selection of b iomonitors, analytes, sampling techniques and sites is discussed, espe cially with regard to the possible harmonization with ESB already oper ational abroad. Availability of validated analytical techniques for de termination of up to 30 elements using nuclear and spectroscopic techn iques, including speciation of several metals, and of the most importa nt organic pollutants employing various chromatographic techniques in biological and environmental samples is demonstrated. (C) 1997 Elsevie r Science Ltd.