Challenges in preparing water-matrix reference materials for PAHs and pesticides: examples from SWIFT-WFD proficiency-testing schemes

Bercaru, Ofelia; Ricci, Marina; Ulberth, Franz; Brunori, Claudia; Morabito, Roberto; Ipolyi, I.; Sahuquillo, A.; Rosenberg, Erwin

doi:10.1016/j.trac.2009.06.006

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It should also be noted that certain homogeneity values appeared quite high since they also incorporated the error introduced through the analysis (Bercaru et al, 2009). These values are therefore the maximum heterogeneity that can be expected, even though it may be influenced by the method repeatability.…”

Section: Homogeneity Testingmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…This is fit-for-purpose when considering the standard deviations at the expected trace concentration levels of the prepared solutions (ng/ℓ) (Bercaru et al, 2009). The expanded uncertainty associated with the gravimetric preparation of the PTS samples is in all cases within 3.4% (k=2), excluding endosulfan II at U rel % of 9.7%, which in all cases is significantly less than the individual analyte standard deviation of proficiency assessment values (σ p ), and is thus also fit-for-purpose (ISO/IEC13528, 2005).…”

Section: Assigned Value (Av)mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How well do our measurements measure up? An overview of South Africa’s first proficiency testing scheme for organochlorine pesticides in water

Fernandes-Whaley

Prevoo-Franzsen

Quinn

et al. 2016

WSA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Access to safe drinking water is a basic human right in South Africa. Therefore, the accurate measurement of water quality is critical in ensuring the safety of water prior to its intended use. Proficiency testing schemes (PTSs) are a recognised form of assessing the technical competence of laboratories performing these analyses. There are over 200 water testing laboratories in South Africa, with only 51 being accredited for testing some or all parameters (physical, chemical and microbiological content) prescribed in SANS 241. Only a limited number of laboratories test for organic contaminants, as this requires advanced, costly analytical instrumentation, such as GC-FID/ECD/MS and LC-UV/MS, as well as skilled staff. These laboratories are either looking at selected organic contaminants listed in the World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water guidelines or performing the minimum requirements, as stipulated in SANS 241, for phenols, atrazine, trihalomethanes and total dissolved organic content. Whereas several local PTS providers are addressing the competent assessment of microbiological, physical and inorganic chemical testing of water, a clear need for a South African PTS provider for organic contaminant analysis in water was identified by NMISA (National Metrology Institute of South Africa) in 2012. The key drivers for the coordination of a local PTS stem mainly from the limited stability of analytes in the samples for analysis and the high cost and logistics of international PTS participation. During 2012 and 2013, NMISA conducted a PTS trial round, a workshop and 2 additional PTS rounds for organochlorine pesticides in water, for South African laboratories, and also several international participants from other countries in Africa. This paper will highlight some of the challenges faced by laboratories when analysing organochlorine pesticides at the ng/ℓ concentration level. Issues surrounding the comparability of measurement results, traceability, method validation and measurement uncertainty are also discussed.

show abstract

Section: Homogeneity Testingmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Assigned Value (Av)mentioning

confidence: 99%

How well do our measurements measure up? An overview of South Africa’s first proficiency testing scheme for organochlorine pesticides in water

Fernandes-Whaley

Prevoo-Franzsen

Quinn

et al. 2016

WSA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The need for matrix certified reference materials (CRMs) certified for hydrophobic organic pollutants in whole water has frequently been highlighted as a serious drawback to fulfil the stipulated monitoring needs since the lack of these hinders the validation of analytical methods and the comparability of results [8,9]. There have already been several attempts to prepare different water materials for interlaboratory comparisons [9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have already been several attempts to prepare different water materials for interlaboratory comparisons [9][10][11][12]. The most common approaches imply a ''reconstitution step'' in the laboratory prior to analysis, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common approaches imply a ''reconstitution step'' in the laboratory prior to analysis, i.e. the addition of a solution or a solid containing the compounds of interest to a specified water volume [4,9]. Ready-to-use matrix materials are closer to real samples but display homogeneity and stability problems compared to the reconstitution approaches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Interaction of 15 priority substances for water monitoring at ng L−1 levels with glass, aluminium and fluorinated polyethylene bottles for the containment of water reference materials

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Certified water reference materials are currently not available for most of the hydrophobic organic pollutants listed in the EU Water Framework Directive. To find the most suitable container type for subsequent reference material productions, feasibility studies for the preparation of waters with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) close to environmental quality standards in water have been performed. Due to the hydrophobic nature of these compounds and their tendency to adsorb onto container walls, an adequate selection of the most appropriate material for containment, storage and transport of water reference materials is crucial. Three different materials (aluminium, amber glass and fluorinated polyethylene, FPE) and three volumes (500/600 mL, 1000/1200 mL and 2000/3000 mL, depending on commercial availability) were tested at ng L -1 level of the target compounds. FPE shows by far the highest loss of analytes due to adsorption onto the container walls for all compounds studied. Aluminium and glass are equally suited for PAHs and PBDEs, but aluminium is unsuitable as container material for TBT due to acid cleaning requirements. The volume of the containers had no dramatic effect on the adsorption behaviour of target compounds for the different volumes tested.

show abstract

Novel concepts for preparation of reference materials as whole water samples for priority substances at nanogram-per-liter level using model suspended particulate matter and humic acids

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One of the unresolved issues of the European Water Framework Directive is the unavailability of realistic water reference materials for the organic priority pollutants at low nanogram-per-liter concentrations. In the present study, three different types of ready-to-use water test materials were developed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) at nanogram-per-liter levels. The first type simulated the dissolved phase in the water and comprised of a solution of humic acids (HA) at 5 mg L−1 dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and a spike of the target compounds. The second type of water sample incorporated the particulate phase in water. To this end, model suspended particulate matter (SPM) with a realistic particle size was produced by jet milling soil and sediments containing known amounts of PAHs, PBDEs and TBT and added as slurry to mineral water. The most complex test materials mimicked “whole water” consequently containing both phases, the model SPM and the HA solution with the target analytes strongly bound to the SPM. In this paper, the development of concepts, processing of the starting materials, characterisation of the HA and model SPMs as well as results for homogeneity and stability testing of the ready-to-use test materials are described in detail.Graphical AbstractVials containing 0.5 g of model SPM, black caps for TBT, silver caps for PAH and red caps for PBDEs, respectively.Graphical AbstractPetri dishes with dried model SPMs; to the left 95.7 ± 0.9 mg of SPM containing PBDEs; in the middle 95.8 ± 0.7 mg of SPM containing TBT and to the right 93.7 mg ± 0.7 mg of SPM containing PAHs

show abstract

Challenges in preparing water-matrix reference materials for PAHs and pesticides: examples from SWIFT-WFD proficiency-testing schemes

Cited by 13 publications

References 10 publications

How well do our measurements measure up? An overview of South Africa’s first proficiency testing scheme for organochlorine pesticides in water

How well do our measurements measure up? An overview of South Africa’s first proficiency testing scheme for organochlorine pesticides in water

Interaction of 15 priority substances for water monitoring at ng L−1 levels with glass, aluminium and fluorinated polyethylene bottles for the containment of water reference materials

Novel concepts for preparation of reference materials as whole water samples for priority substances at nanogram-per-liter level using model suspended particulate matter and humic acids

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About