INTERLABORATORY PROGRAM FOR THE QUALITY-CONTROL OF TRIMETHYLLEAD DETERMINATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Determinations of the trimethyllead moiety in environmental samples are carried out by a number of laboratories in Europe. To verify the quality of such determinations, the Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly SCR) of the European Commission organised an interlaboratory exercise which allowed discussion and comparison of the different techniques used so far in lead speciation analyses. In addition, this first step enabled a study of the feasibility of the preparation of candidate reference materials (CRMs) for the determination of the trimethyllead moiety in simulated rainwater to be carried out. The solutions used in this study were carefully prepared and their homogeneity and stability verified. This paper describes the organisation and the results of the intercomparison and discusses the further development of the project.