Collaborative study to improve the quality control of rare earth element determinations in environmental matrices.

In order to control the quality of rare earth determinations in environmental matrices, the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly Community Bureau of Reference, BCR) of the European Commission has started a project, the final aim of which is to certify four types of matrices (tuna muscle, mussel tissue, aquatic plant and estuarine sediment) for their contents of a range of rare earth elements (Sc, Y and the lanthanides: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu). The elements U and Th were added to the study. The first part of this project consisted of an interlaboratory study which aimed to test the feasibility of preparation of environmental reference materials and to detect and remove most of the pitfalls observed in rare earth determinations.

Interlaboratory studies to improve the quality of mercury determination in seawater.

Determinations of pollutants in various matrices are routinely performed by a number of organizations for monitoring contamination levels of the marine environment. Projects for improving the quality of determinations of trace metals in seawater have been successfully concluded within the scope of the BCR-Programme (now renamed Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme) of the European Commission; however, the determination of total mercury could not be considered at this stage both because of the poor analytical performances observed and the unsuitability of the containers (polyethylene) used for the seawater certified reference material (CRM 579). A specific project has therefore been organized to improve the state of the art of Hg determination in seawater and to investigate the best way of storing a candidate CRM.