Certified Reference Materials for Inorganic and Organic Contaminants in Environmental Matrices

Chemical measurements often constitute the basis for informed decision making at various levels in society; sound decision making is only possible as long as the quality of the data used is uncompromised. For guaranteeing the reliability and comparablility of analytical data an intricate system of quality assurance measures has to be put into effect in a laboratory. Reference materials and in particular certified reference materials (CRMs) are an essential instrument for achieving traceability and comparability of measurement results between laboratories and over time. As in any other area of analytical chemistry measurements carried out to monitor the levels and fate of contaminants in the environment have to be calibrated using appropriate calibrators and properly validated using fit-for-purpose matrix matched CRMs to attain confidence in the data produced. A sufficiently large number of matrix CRMs are available for the analysis of most elements and the group of chemicals known as Persistent Organic Pollutants in environmental compartments and biota. The wide variety of analyte/level/matrix/matrix property combinations that are available from several suppliers enables analysts to select CRMs which sufficiently match the properties of the samples they routinely analyse. Supply of materials value assigned for the so-called emerging pollutants is scarce at the moment, though current development programmes of CRM suppliers aim at filling this gap.JRC.D.2-Reference material