TrainMiC®: Providing a Tool for the Inter-Calibration of Technical Assessors in Europe in the Area of Chemical Measurements

The TrainMiC® (Training in Metrology in Chemistry) programme is a European programme for Life-Long Learning in metrology in chemistry, which is a truly unique system operational across many parts of Europe (19 countries) via national teams. It uses shareware pedagogic tools and the learning content has been harmonised at the European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working via an Editorial Board. This paper gives an overview of the activities within the TrainMiC® programme where there is an interaction with national accreditation bodies and the European Cooperation for Accreditation. It is the responsibility of the accreditation bodies to ensure that outcome of the assessments is reliable and transparent and is meeting the relevant requirements. The paper explains the potential of TrainMiC® in providing a tool for accreditation bodies to ensure a harmonised level of knowledge in a specific sector of those who are involved in technical assessments for accreditation in the field of chemical measurements. Some use the word inter-calibration to describe this process

EURL-HM-22 Proficiency test report: Determination of total As, Cd, Pb, Hg, MeHg and inorganic As in fish

The European Union Reference Laboratory for Heavy Metals in Feed and Food (EURL-HM) organised a proficiency test (EURL-HM-22) for the determination of total As, Cd, Pb, Hg and inorganic As (iAs) in fish to support the Commission Regulation (EC) 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. This PT was open only to National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). The reference material "IAEA-436" (Tuna fish flesh homogenate) was used as test item. The finely ground dry powder material was rebottled, relabelled and dispatched to the participants. The reference values of interest were provided by the IAEA, together with an informative value for total Pb. The University of Graz (Austria) was requested to analyse the mass fraction of iAs in the material and reported a truncated value ("less than" 0.005 mg kg-1). Forty two participants from 30 countries registered to the exercise (all EU Member States plus Iceland and Norway). Only one participant could not report results due to technical instrumental problems. Laboratory results were rated using z- (z'- for MeHg) and zeta scores in accordance with ISO 13528:2015. The following relative standard deviations for proficiency assessment (σpt) were set according to the modified Horwitz equation: 13% for total Hg and MeHg; 15% for total As; and 22% for total Cd. No scoring was provided for total Pb and iAs. More than 92% of the participating NRLs reported satisfactory results (according to the z-score) for total As, Cd, Hg and MeHg, thus confirming their ability in monitoring the maximum levels set by the European Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 for fish commodities. However, only 9 (out of 41) participants reported results for MeHg. Most of the laboratories provided realistic estimates of their measurement uncertainties.JRC.F.5-Food and Feed Complianc

TrainMiC® Presentations Translated in Albanian

TrainMiC® is a European programme for life-long learning about how to interpret the metrological requirements in chemistry. It is operational across many parts of Europe via national teams. These teams use shareware pedagogic tools which have been harmonized at European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working in an editorial board. The material has been translated into fourteen different languages. In this publication, TrainMiC® presentations translated in Albanian language by the Albanian TrainMiC® team are published.JRC.D.3-Knowledge Transfer and Standards for Securit

TrainMiC® Presentations Translated in Serbian

TrainMiC® is a European programme for life-long learning about how to interpret the metrological requirements in chemistry. It is operational across many parts of Europe via national teams. These teams use shareware pedagogic tools which have been harmonized at European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working in an editorial board. The material has been translated into fourteen different languages. In this publication, TrainMiC® presentations translated in Serbian language by the Serbian TrainMiC® team are published.JRC.D.3-Knowledge Transfer and Standards for Securit

TrainMiC® Presentations Translated in Spanish

TrainMiC® is a European programme for life-long learning about how to interpret the metrological requirements in chemistry. It is operational across many parts of Europe via national teams. These teams use shareware pedagogic tools which have been harmonized at European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working in an editorial board. The material has been translated into fourteen different languages. In this publication, TrainMiC® presentations translated in Spanish language by the Spanish TrainMiC® team are published.JRC.D.3-Knowledge Transfer and Standards for Securit

TrainMiC® Presentations Translated in Portuguese

TrainMiC® is a European programme for life-long learning about how to interpret the metrological requirements in chemistry. It is operational across many parts of Europe via national teams. These teams use shareware pedagogic tools which have been harmonized at European level by a joint effort of many experts across Europe working in an editorial board. The material has been translated into fourteen different languages. In this publication, TrainMiC® presentations translated in Portuguese language by the Portuguese TrainMiC® team are published.JRC.D.3-Knowledge Transfer and Standards for Securit

Influence of the Correction for Moisture/Water Content on the Quality of the Certification of Cd, Cu and Pb Mass Fractions in Rice

Property of certified reference values are very often related to dry mass. The dry mass is determined by measuring the moisture content of the sample. Comparison of 19 IMEP focuses on the evaluation of the highy hygroscopic. Thus, two series of certification were carried out in parallel. First on a set of water "saturated" samples only corrected for their moisture content, and second on a set of "non saturated" samples alo corrected for moisture pick-up occurring before the gravimetric addition of the IDMS isotopically enriched spikes. After critical evaluation of the factors influencing results for moisture in rice sample, the application of three different methods was investigated: oven drying method, Karl Fischer titiration and thermo-gravimetry and obtained results compared. For each of the certified amount contents in the "saturated" and "non-saturated" samples combined uncertainties attached to the measurement results were evaluated according to ISO GUM guidelines, using the uncertainty propagation procedure. The contribution of moisture and hygroscopic determination to the total combined measurement uncertainty is discussed.JRC.D.4-Isotope measurement

Determination of selected trace elements in marine biota samples with the application of fast temperature programs and solid sampling continuous source high resolution atomic absorption spectroscopy: method validation

International audienceAnalytical procedure for the determination of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Co and Cr in marine biota samples using solid sampling high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR CS AAS) and accelerated fast temperature programmes has been developed. Calibration technique based on the use of solid certified reference materials similar to the nature of the analysed sample and statistics of regression analysis were applied. A validation approach in line with the requirements of ISO 17025 standard and Eurachem guidelines was followed. Accordingly, blanks, selectivity, calibration, linearity, working range, trueness, repeatability and reproducibility, limits of detection and quantification and expanded uncertainty for all investigated elements were assessed. The major contributors to the combined uncertainty of the analyte mass fractions were found to be the homogeneity of the samples and the microbalance precision. Traceability to the SI system of units of the obtained with the proposed analytical procedure results was also demonstrated. The potential of the proposed analytical procedure based on solid sampling HR CS AAS technique was demonstrated by direct analysis of marine reference biota samples. Overall, the use of solid sampling HR CS AAS permits obtaining significant advantages for the determination of selected trace elements in marine biota samples, such as straightforward calibration, a high sample throughput, sufficient precision, a suitable limit of detection and reduced risk of analyte loss and contamination

Reference Measurements for Priority and Essential Trace Elements and Methyl Mercury with Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry for Seafood Safety Assessment and CRM Production

The continuous release of anthropogenic pollutants into marine environment increases the needs for the development of analytical procedures for their accurate determination in many sample types. Sound strategies for seafood safety monitoring call for measurement systems capable of producing comparable analytical results with demonstrated quality. Method validation, traceability, and uncertainty of analytical results are the three milestones to assess data quality. Some trace elements are essential for biological structures, but they can become toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their functions; others are toxic even at very low levels. Their accurate determination in reference samples serves as an important step in seafood safety control and pollution monitoring. Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ID ICP-MS) has been applied for the determination of the total mass fractions of five trace elements (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in marine biota candidate reference material IAEA-476. Because of the complex matrix of the sample and the expected spectral interferences, special care was taken for the validation of the applied methodology, particularly for its measurement step. Reference isotopic measurements were carried out by sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS). The entire ID ICP-SFMS measurement procedure was described by mathematical modeling and the combined uncertainty of measurement results was estimated. All factors influencing the final results and isotopic equilibrium were systematically investigated. This included the procedural blank, the moisture content in biota samples, and all factors affecting the blend ratio measurements (i.e., instrumental background, spectral interferences, dead time, mass discrimination effects, and the repeatability of measured isotope ratios). Modeling of the entire measurement procedure and the use of appropriate certified reference materials (CRM) enable to assure the traceability of obtained values to the International System of Units (SI). Finally, the developed procedure has been successfully applied in the process of the certification of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified reference material for trace elements and MeHg mass fractions in fish homogenate sample. The excellent agreement between obtained results in the present study and those derived from the IAEA certification campaign for trace elements and MeHg in the same sample matrix further validated the reference methods developed in the IAEA

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Abstract The application of a fast program combined with the advantages of the iridium permanent modifier is proposed for trace element analysis of plant samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). For two volatile elements (Cd, Pb) and two mid-refractory elements (Cr, Ni) it was demonstrated that coating of the platform or of the tube atomization area with Ir is an efficient means of improving the accuracy and precision of results. A detailed study of interference from individual main matrix components and from composite plant matrices has confirmed the usefulness of the whole approach. The validity of the method has been confirmed by analysis of eight reference plant materials. Introduction Permanent chemical modification usually consists in the introduction of a large amount of chemical modifier solution on to the platform or on to the tube wall, followed by a stepwise drying-pyrolysis stage. This results in coating of the graphite surface with the thermally fixed modifier On the other hand, in principle a modern atomization system that satisfies several physical requirements to approach near isothermal conditions during the atomization process, by itself deals with numerous interferences which could not be overcome by use of first-generation atomizers. It is not surprising to discover that some relatively complex electrothermal programs from that time might have been considerably simplified and that these simplified programs keep, and often exceed, their initial efficiency Of particular concern is the situation when a single temperature program is used to determine several analytes in a variety of types of sample. Such programs have already been proposed for plant and animal tissues, soils, sediments, water, seawater, blood, and urine -matrices with widely different composition Emilia Vassileva · Hervé Baeten · Michel Hoenig Advantages of the iridium permanent modifier in fast programs applied to trace-element analysis of plant samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry Fresenius J Anal Chem (2001) 369 : 491-49