Precision of test methods to assess the release of organic substances from construction products

The precision of the methods developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) to assess the release of dangerous organic substances from construction products was evaluated as part of the validation of the methods aiming to convert them in EU standards. This evaluation of precision was done by an interlaboratory comparison organised by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, in support of the Regulation 305/2011/EU (Construction Products Regulation). The present study focused on organic substances since inorganic substances were studied in previous work. The objective of this work was to evaluate for organic substances the precision (repeatability and reproducibility) of the methods developed by CEN Technical Committee 351 on dynamic surface leaching and up-flow percolation procedures from construction products, analysis of leachates/eluates and content analysis. This was done by comparing the results obtained by different laboratories when they analysed samples obtained from the same materials using the CEN methods under validation. The materials and analytes were proposed by CEN Technical Committee 351 to cover a reasonable range of products and substances at measurable levels. Validation plans were drawn up by the JRC in agreement with CEN/TC351. The tested substances were biocides, phthalates, mineral oil, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and the selected construction products were render, sealant, asphalt aggregate and recycled aggregate. The methods assessed were horizontal dynamic surface leaching test CEN/TS 16637-2; horizontal up-flow percolation test CEN/TS 16637-3; content of organic substances – methods for extraction and analysis CEN/TS 17331; and analysis of organic substances in eluates CEN/TS 17332. Specific methods were used for the determination of biocides (WI 351035) and PAHs (WI 351034). Raw materials were obtained from industrial providers and processed to obtain laboratory samples at the JRC premises in Geel, Belgium. This interlaboratory test was open to expert laboratories from all Member States. Despite all efforts to recruit a higher number of participants, eventually 12 laboratories registered to the study and reported results; between 5 and 7 laboratories analysed each of the product following the CEN methods mentioned above. Precision of the reported results was evaluated according to ISO 5725-2. The obtained values for repeatability and reproducibility are shown in the annexes of this JRC report, together with the content levels, for each construction product and analyte within this study. For the dynamic surface leaching test CEN/TS 16637-2, relative repeatability standard deviation (RSDr) was 6 % and relative reproducibility standard deviations (RSDR) was 54 % (median values). Because of limited stability of biocides in water, it is recommended to assess their release at leaching times shorter than 64 days and to store the leachates in dark glass bottles at 4ºC. For the up-flow percolation test CEN/TS 16637-3, RSDr of 20 % and RSDR of 70 % were obtained as median values. For the analysis of eluates, RSDr were 2-32 % and RSDR were 23-51 %. And for content analysis, the values for RSDr are 6-9 % and for RSDR 27-63%. Due to the limited number of participants, any conclusion or recommendation must be made with the utmost care. However, despite the limited number of participants which might affect the robustness of this study, the results obtained for organic substances are consistent with the ones obtained for inorganic substances. Therefore it seems reasonable to incorporate the RSD values for organic substances to the standard methods.JRC.F.6-Reference Material

Farm economic sustainability in the European Union: A pilot study

The measurement of farm economic sustainability has received intermittent academic interest in recent times, while the conceptual discussions are often quite limited. Moreover, this concept receives more attention at periods of diffi culty for the sector. The measurement of farm viability is an important precondition to enrich these discussions. Therefore, it is necessary todevelop more comprehensive and detailed measurement techniques to provide more clarity on viability and vulnerability levels in the sector. This paper refocuses attention on this issue, using a pilot dataset collected at farm level across a range of EU Member States which facilitates the assessment of an additional category of viability, namely that of economically sustainablefarms, i.e. farms that are economically vulnerable but which are deemed sustainable by the presence of off-farm income. Differences in viability and economic sustainability across the eight surveyed Member States are shown. The analysis is sensitive to the factors included in the measurement of viability as well as to the threshold income used to defi ne viability. Although this is a pilot study, it enhances our understanding of the factors affecting cross-country evaluation of viability and sustainability, and the policy instruments that could improve viability levels

The certification of different mass fractions of the GM event 73496 in rapeseed powder: Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF434a, ERM®-BF434b, ERM®-BF434c, ERM®-BF434d and ERM®-BF434e

This report describes the production of the set of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) ERM-BF434a, b, c, d and e. These are matrix materials certified for their 73496 rapeseed mass fractions. The material has been produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. Genetically modified (GM) rapeseeds of the event 73496 and of a non-GM rapeseed variety were ground to obtain GM and non-GM base powders. Gravimetric mixtures of non-GM and GM rapeseed powder were prepared by dry-mixing. The between unit-heterogeneity has been quantified and stability during dispatch and stability during storage have been assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. The certified value was obtained from the gravimetric preparations, taking into account the purity of the base materials and their respective water mass fraction. The certified values were confirmed by event-specific real-time PCR as an independent verification method (measurements within the scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005). Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible inhomogeneity (Section 4), instability (Section 5) and characterisation (Section 6). The materials are intended for the calibration or quality control of 73496 rapeseed identification and quantification methods. As any reference material, they can also be used for control charts or validation studies. The CRMs are available in glass vials containing at least 1 g of dried rapeseed powder closed under argon atmosphere. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 200 mg. The CRM has been accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen

Certification of Reference Materials of Potato Powder with Different Mass Fractions of the Event AM04-1020 - Certified Reference Materials ERM®-BF430 (ERM®-BF430a, ERM®-BF430b, ERM®-BF430c,ERM®-BF430d, ERM®-BF430e)

This report describes the processing and certification of five potato powder Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) containing different mass fractions of genetically modified (GM) AM04-1020 potato (ERM-BF430a,b,c,d,e). The materials were processed and certified in 2011 by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM, Geel, Belgium), according to the principles of ISO Guide 34JRC.DG.D.2-Reference material

The Certification of Reference Materials of Maize Seed Powder with different Mass Fractions of the Maize Event 3272. Certified Reference Materials ERM-BF420 (ERM-BF420a, ERM-BF420b, ERM-BF420c)

This report describes the processing and certification of maize Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) with different mass fractions of genetically modified (GM) Event 3272 maize seed powder (CRMs ERM-BF420a, ERM-BF420b, ERM-BF420c). The CRMs are intended to be used for the quality control or calibration of methods for the quantification of the Event 3272 maize mass fraction in food and feed. The GM maize mass fractions of ERM-BF420 were verified by an event-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) method. The CRMs are available in glass bottles containing 1 g of dried maize powder closed under argon atmosphere.JRC.D.2-Reference material

Vaporisation Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration: A Perfect Tool for Water Content Determination of Difficult Matrix Reference Materials

Volumetric Karl Fischer titration (V-KFT) is the reference method to determine the water content in a whole range of organic and inorganic matrices. Nevertheless, the method has several important drawbacls such: as a high solvent consumption, and a rather large measurement uncertainty when determining the water content in starch containing reference and candidate reference materials (e.g. maize, toasted bread, etc.). It is also labour intensive for routine measurements. In order to overcome these disadvantages, a relatively new method of coulometric Karl Fischer titration, equipped with a fully automated oven system, has been established and optimised. The objective of this study was to establish the robustness of the vap-C-KFT method and to compare measurement uncertainties with those obtained by V-KFT. The overall results obtained with the proposed vap-C-KFT method and to compare measurement uncertainties with those obtained by V-KFT. The overall results obtained with the proposed vap-C-KFT methods correlate will with the results obtained by V-KFT R2 = 0.998). Because of the good repeatability and intermediate precision of the vap-C-KFT methods compared to V-KFT, significant lower measurement uncertainties were obtained from vap-C-KFT measurements.JRC.D.2-Reference material

Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry as a Tool for Studying Heterogeneity within Polymers.

Abstract not availableJRC.D-Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (Geel

Farm economic sustainability in the European Union: A pilot study

The measurement of farm economic sustainability has received intermittent academic interest in recent times, while the conceptual discussions are often quite limited. Moreover, this concept receives more attention at periods of difficulty for the sector. The measurement of farm viability is an important precondition to enrich these discussions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more comprehensive and detailed measurement techniques to provide more clarity on viability and vulnerability levels in the sector. This paper refocuses attention on this issue, using a pilot dataset collected at farm level across a range of EU Member States which facilitates the assessment of an additional category of viability, namely that of economically sustainable farms, i.e. farms that are economically vulnerable but which are deemed sustainable by the presence of off-farm income. Differences in viability and economic sustainability across the eight surveyed Member States are shown. The analysis is sensitive to the factors included in the measurement of viability as well as to the threshold income used to defi ne viability. Although this is a pilot study, it enhances our understanding of the factors affecting cross-country evaluation of viability and sustainability, and the policy instruments that could improve viability levels

The certification of different mass fractions of AV43-6-G7 in potato tuber powder: ERM®-BF431a, ERM®-BF431b, ERM®-BF431c, ERM®-BF431d and ERM®-BF431e

This report describes the production of a set of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) ERM-BF431a, b, c, d and e, matrix materials certified for their AV43-6-G7 mass fractions. The material has been produced following ISO Guide 34:2009. Genetically modified (GM) tubers of the potato event AV43-6-G7 and of a non-GM potato variety were dried and ground to obtain GM and non-GM potato powders. Beside these two pure materials gravimetric mixtures of non-GM and GM potato powder were prepared by dry-mixing. Between unit-heterogeneity has been quantified and stability during dispatch and storage have been assessed in accordance with ISO Guide 35:2006. The certified value was obtained from the gravimetric preparations, taking into account the purity of the base materials and their water mass fraction. The certified values were confirmed by event-specific real-time PCR as independent verification method (measurements within the scope of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2005). Uncertainties of the certified values were calculated in compliance with the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and include uncertainties related to possible heterogeneity, instability, and characterisation. The materials are intended for the calibration or quality control of methods. As any reference material, they can also be used for control charts or validation studies. The CRMs are available in glass vials containing at least 1 g of dried potato tuber powder and closed under argon atmosphere. The minimum amount of sample to be used is 200 mg. The CRM has been accepted as European Reference Material (ERM®) after peer evaluation by the partners of the European Reference Materials consortium.JRC.D.2-Standards for Innovation and sustainable Developmen