AN INTERLABORATORY TEST FOR THE DETERMINATION OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAH) IN DRINKING WATER (EC 9504 SLD)
Report No DWI0656

.Apr 1989

SUMMARY

I OBJECTIVES

To provide evidence on the accuracy of analysis in 27 laboratories participating in a survey of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAR) in drinking water.

II REASONS

A European Community Directive defines maximum admissible concentrations of 200 ng/l for 6 specified PAH in drinking water. The Department of the Environment has initiated a survey of current levels of PAH in drinking water in England and Wales. An assessment of the quality of data is essential to the interpretation of the survey. Interlaboratory tests are used as a means of evaluating the size of analytical errors existing in groups of laboratories.

III CONCLUSIONS

The accuracy of PAH determination in drinking water is similar to that achieved for other trace determinands. Errors of over 40% are not uncommon.

Analytical error has serious implications for the interpretation of the results of the PAH survey, Random errors make if difficult to demonstrate compliance with a water quality standard. Systematic error in PAH determination appears to be predominantly negative. Mean bias of -20% to -30% is evident and may be associated with incomplete extraction of the determinands from aqueous solution.

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