PROGRAM OF THE BCR ON CRMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL-ANALYSIS

The BCR-programme on environmental analysis covers a vast area of matrices, determinands and concentrations. In the last years many certifications of trace elements such as Hg, As, Pb, Zn, Cu, Se etc. have been concluded; other trace element certifications are under way. The programme has been enlarged with organic pollutants in various matrices, of which the measurement of chlorinated compounds (biphenyls, dibenzodioxins, dibenzofuranes and pesticides) is most advanced: CB's have been certified in fish oils and sewage sludge and the "dirty" CDD's and CDF's will be certified in 1990, in an incinerator fly ash. The work on organic trace pollutants will be further extended with e.g. industrial wastes. More emphasis has recently been given to speciation of trace metals in environmental matrices (e.g. tributyl tin, methyl mercury, arsenobetaine Cr(III) and (VI) and binding of trace metals to various soil fractions). A lot of work is being done to solve problems in monitoring occupational air; both materials to verify the performance of the final analytical step and sampling techniques are being studied. A short description of recent achievements is given together with a survey of various on-going projects. Examples of the care and methodological improvement necessary for certification are also given. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.