Standardisation of the (129)I, (151)Sm and (166m)Ho activity concentration using the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method.

The (129)I, (151)Sm and (166m)Ho standardisations using the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method, that have been carried out in the frame of the European Metrology Research Program project "Metrology for Radioactive Waste Management" are described. The radionuclide beta counting efficiencies were calculated using two computer codes CN2005 and MICELLE2. The sensitivity analysis of the code input parameters (ionization quenching factor, beta shape factor) on the calculated efficiencies was performed, and the results are discussed.

Development of a reference material for Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A in cheese: feasibility study, processing, homogeneity and stability assessment.

Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by enterotoxins excreted into foods by strains of staphylococci. Commission Regulation 1441/2007 specifies thresholds for the presence of these toxins in foods. In this article we report on the progress towards reference materials (RMs) for Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in cheese.

International system of units traceable results of Hg mass concentration at saturation in air from a newly developed measurement procedure.

Data most commonly used at present to calibrate measurements of mercury vapor concentrations in air come from a relationship known as the "Dumarey equation". It uses a fitting relationship to experimental results obtained nearly 30 years ago. The way these results relate to the international system of units (SI) is not known.

On the use of mercury as a means of locating background sources in ultra low-background HPGe-detector systems.

In low-level gamma-ray spectrometry, it is common to measure large samples in order to obtain low detection limits for the massic activity (in mBq/kg). These samples have significant shielding effects. In order to study whether the background sources in three ultra low-background HPGe detectors were located in the detector or in the shield, Marinelli beakers filled with hyperpure mercury were measured.

Collaborative trial validation study of two methods, one based on high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of acrylamide in bakery and potato products.

A European inter-laboratory study was conducted to validate two analytical procedures for the determination of acrylamide in bakery ware (crispbreads, biscuits) and potato products (chips), within a concentration range from about 20 microg/kg to about 9000 microgg/kg. The methods are based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of the derivatised analyte and on high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) of native acrylamide. Isotope dilution with isotopically labelled acrylamide was an integral part of both methods.

Conversion of carbon into CF4 for SI-traceable measurements of absolute carbon isotope amount ratios: a feasibility study.

The feasibility of performing SI-traceable carbon isotope amount ratio measurements following conversion of carbon into CF4 was studied. A procedure for the direct fluorination of carbon with elemental fluorine was developed, and the conversion step was checked for losses, blank contributions, and the absence of systematic isotope effects. Gas chromatography was used to identify and quantify the gaseous fluorination products and to isolate CF4 from byproducts.

Water as a source of errors in reference materials.

In the field of reference materials, long-term stability is of highest importance. Particularly for biological matrices, any kind of deterioration must be avoided during shelf-life. In the production precautions are taken to prevent these, but possible alterations caused by intensive drying have been underestimated until today.