Global intercomparison for the determination of chlorinated pesticides, PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediment sample IAEA-417.

A world-wide interlaboratory comparison exercise was organised using a lagoon sediment as sample material (IAEA-417) for the analyses of chlorinated pesticides, PCB congeners and petroleum hydrocarbons. The sample material was analysed by 97 laboratories from 46 countries, representing a rather wide distribution for such an interlaboratory comparison exercise. Whereas quite variable results were reported for most chlorinated pesticides, more consistent interlaboratory results were obtained for PCB congeners and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Nevertheless, many laboratories reported results in sufficiently dose agreement that after statistical screening of the data, consensus values were obtained for the concentration of several analytes in this sediment sample. The results allow reference concentration values to be assigned for several analytes. Thus, the sediment sample IAEA-417 can be used as a reference material for quality control of data in the determination of chlorinated compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons in moderately polluted sediments.