Method validation study on a GC-MS based method for PAHs analysis in food matrices

Method validation study on a GC-MS based method for PAHs analysis in food matrices

The European Union Reference Laboratory for PAHs (EURL PAHs) will organise in the second half of 2010 an inter-laboratory comparison for the validation of an analytical method (MVS) to determine the 4 target PAHs, according with the decision of the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH), benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and chrysene in various foodstuffs.

The method is based on pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) (Soxhlet will be considered an equivalent alternative), a first purification step by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and a final purification by solid phase extraction (SPE). The detection / quantitation is made by gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Design of the study

The MVS will be conducted and evaluated according to ISO 5725-2:1994.

The participants to the study will be asked to analyse a total of about 20 samples, including edible oil, meat, fish, mussel tissue, cereals, and infant formula.

The concentration levels will be between 0,5 and 20 µg/kg.

Dispatch will be pre-announced at least two week in advance and is foreseen for the second half of September.

The participants will have 6 weeks from dispatch date to report back the results.

The MVS will be open to all interested laboratories, e.g. NRLs, official food control laboratories, private food control laboratories, academia, and laboratories from industry.

If you are interested in participating to this MVS, please contact:

Donata Lerda

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)

EURL Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Retieseweg 111

B-2440 Geel, Belgium

Tel.: +32-14-571 826

Fax: +32-14-571 783

E-mail:jrc-irmm-crl-pah@ec.europa.eu