TY - JOUR A1 - Elordui-Zapatarietxe, S. A1 - Fettig, Ina A1 - Richter, Janine A1 - Philipp, Rosemarie A1 - Vanermen, G. A1 - Monteyne, E. A1 - Boom, G. A1 - Emteborg, H. T1 - Preparation and evaluation of sufficiently homogeneous and stable reference materials for priority hazardous substances in whole water N2 - We have prepared and evaluated three whole water test materials containing eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and tributyltin (TBT) with respect to homogeneity and short-term stability. The test materials were used as samples in two inter-laboratory comparisons. The materials were composed of natural mineral water and model suspended particulate matter (SPM) containing the target compounds at ng L-1 levels. The expanded uncertainty of the estimated mass concentrations in the final test materials was obtained by combining contributions from the homogeneity, the stability and the model SPM characterization. The whole water materials were sufficiently homogeneous and stable at 4 °C for their intended use. In total, 12 out of 15 investigated target parameters could be assessed to be present with a relative combined expanded uncertainty below 25 %. The outcome of the two interlaboratory comparisons confirmed the good quality of the test materials and the level of uncertainties associated with the estimated mass concentrations. These findings are an important contribution towards the development of whole water matrix reference materials certified for PAH, PBDE and TBT in support of the Water Framework Directive of the European Union. KW - Reference material KW - Referenzmaterial KW - Water Framework Directive KW - Wasserrahmenrichtlinie KW - Whole water sample KW - Gesamtwasserprobe PY - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-015-1189-1 SN - 0949-1775 SN - 1432-0517 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 113 EP - 120 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-35728 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Janine A1 - Elordui-Zapatarietxe, S. A1 - Emteborg, H. A1 - Fettig, Ina A1 - Cabillic, J. A1 - Alasonati, E. A1 - Gantois, F. A1 - Swart, C. A1 - Gokcen, T. A1 - Tunc, M. A1 - Binici, B. A1 - Rodriguez-Cea, A. A1 - Zuliani, T. A1 - Gonzalez Gago, A. A1 - Pröfrock, D. A1 - Nousiainen, M. A1 - Sawal, G. A1 - Buzoianu, M. A1 - Philipp, Rosemarie T1 - An interlaboratory comparison on whole water samples N2 - The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires monitoring of organic priority pollutants in so-called whole water samples, i.e. in aqueous nonfiltered samples that contain natural colloidal and suspended particulate matter. Colloids and suspended particles in the liquid phase constitute a challenge for sample homogeneity and stability. Within the joint research project ENV08 ‘‘Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC’’, whole water test materials were developed by spiking defined amounts of aqueous slurries of ultrafinely milled contaminated soil or sediment and aqueous solutions of humic acid into a natural mineral water matrix. This paper presents the results of an European-wide interlaboratory comparison (ILC) using this type of test materials. Target analytes were tributyltin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ng/L concentration range. Results of the ILC indicate that the produced materials are sufficiently homogeneous and stable to serve as samples for, e.g. proficiency testing or method validation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ready-to-use water materials with a defined amount of suspended particulate and colloidal matter have been applied as test samples in an interlaboratory exercise. These samples meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Previous proficiency testing schemes mainly employed filtered water samples fortified with a spike of the target analyte in a water-miscible organic solvent. KW - Water Framework Directive KW - Wasserrahmenrichtlinie KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Ringversuch KW - Whole water sample KW - Gesamtwasserprobe PY - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-015-1190-8 SN - 0949-1775 SN - 1432-0517 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 121 EP - 129 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-35730 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -