The Certification of the Mass Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn in Wastewater, BCR-713 (Effluent Wastewater), BCR-714 (Influent Wastewater) BCR-715 (Industrial Effluent Wastewater).

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

Comprehensive comparison of classic Soxhlet extraction with Soxtec extraction, ultrasonication extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil

This paper compares the extraction effectiveness of six different commonly applied extraction techniques for the determination of PCBs in soil. The techniques included are Soxhlet, Soxtec, ultrasonication extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction. For none of the techniques were the extraction conditions optimized, but instead the extraction parameters were based on the experience from previous successful investigation published by a number of research groups worldwide. In general, all extraction techniques were capable of producing accurate data for one native PCB contaminated soil diluted with another soil sample to obtain two concentration levels. It could therefore be concluded that any of the investigated techniques can be used with success if the extraction conditions applied are chosen wisely. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V

Towards a New Certified Reference Material for Butyltins, Methylmercury and Arsenobetaine in Oyster Tissue.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design: the Case of Smart Nanomaterials. A perspective based on a European Workshop

The European Commission’s Green Deal is a major policy action plan aiming to achieve a climate-neutral, zero-pollution, sustainable, circular and inclusive economy, driving both the New Industrial Strategy for Europe and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. Innovative materials can help to reach these policy goals, but they need to be safe and sustainable themselves. Thus, one aim is to shift the development of chemicals to Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design, and develop a new systems approach and criteria for sustainability to achieve this. A virtual workshop was organised in September 2020 by the Joint Research Centre and the Directorate-General Research and Innovation of the European Commission, with participants from academia, non-governmental organisations, industry and regulatory bodies. The aim was to introduce the concept of Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design and identify challenges in achieving safer and more sustainable Smart Nanomaterials, as an example of innovative materials, and to deliver recommendations for directions and actions necessary to meet these challenges. The discussions focussed on aspects of designing Smart Nanomaterials and how to shift to Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design, Regulatory Preparedness, and the implications of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. The following overarching themes were identified: (i) a need for an agreed terminology, (ii) how to achieve a transition from Safe-by-Design to Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design, (iii) preparedness of regulators and legislation for innovative chemicals/nanomaterials and (iv) a common understanding of the principles of Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design. This paper presents the authors’ view on the state of the art as well as the needs for future activities, based on discussions at the workshop and further considerations. The considerations concerning the case of Smart Nanomaterials can illustrate the implementation of the Safe- and Sustainable-by-Design concept for other advanced materials and for chemicals and products in general.JRC.F.2 - Consumer Products Safet

An investigation into the occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two soil size fractions at a former industrial site in NE England, UK using in situ PFE–GC–MS

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were determined in 16 topsoils (0–10 cm) collected across the site of a former tar works in NE England. The soils were prepared in the laboratory to two different particle size fractions: 250 μm to <2 mm (fraction B). Sixteen priority PAHs were analysed in the soils using in situ pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) followed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The average total PAH concentration in the soils ranged from 9.0 to 1,404 mg/kg (soil fraction A) and from 6.6 to 872 mg/kg (soil fraction B). These concentrations are high compared with other industrially contaminated soils reported in the international literature, indicating that the tar works warrants further investigation/remediation. A predominance of higher-molecular-weight compounds was determined in the samples, suggesting that the PAHs were of pyrogenic (anthropogenic) origin. Statistical comparison (t-test) of the mean total PAH concentrations in soil fractions A and B indicated that there was a significant difference (95% confidence interval) between the fractions in all but two of the soil samples. Additionally, comparisons of the distributions of individual PAHs (i.e. 16 PAHs × 16 soil samples) in soil fractions A and B demonstrated generally higher PAH concentrations in fraction A (i.e. 65.8% of all individual PAH concentrations were higher in soil fraction A). This is important because fraction A corresponds to the particle size thought to be most important in terms of human contact with soils and potential threats to human healt