Certified reference materials (CRMs) for quality control of trace-element determinations in wastewaters

needs for new reference materials are constantly growing and become more specific as laboratories raise their awareness. Particular emphasis is placed on how representative reference materials are. In the water analysis sector, series of "natural" water reference materials are already on the market (sea and fresh water). However, at present, there are no materials that meet the needs for quality control in the analysis of wastewaters. Recent advances were made possible within the framework of a European Commission research project, the final aim of which was to certify three wastewater reference materials for trace-element contents (BCR-713, effluent wastewater, BCR-714, influent wastewater, and BCR-715, industrial effluent wastewater). These CRMs were the result of collaborative work involving 16 European laboratories. This article describes the preparation and the certification of these three wastewater reference materials for arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium and zinc. Besides information on the preparation of the CRMs, it also describes the analytical techniques used by the certifying laboratories. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.