Overview of SM & T (BCR) activities for the quality control of mercury determination in the environment

The aim of the Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (SM & T) of the European Commission (continuation of the BCR and Measurements and Testing Programmes) is to contribute to the harmonisation and improvement of methods and measurements carried out within the European Union and hence to the comparability of data necessary for e.g. trade activities, monitoring of environment, food and health, etc. R & D projects along these lines are currently funded; in the field of environmental analysis, they consist in most cases in the organisation of interlaboratory studies (intercomparisons and certifications of reference materials) in which laboratories may collaborate to improve the measurement or analysis concerned. Other activities are related to development of new methods and pre-normative research. This paper describes the objectives of the SM & T programme and the main actions undertaken, and gives examples of projects dealing with mercury determination in environmental matrices. Received: 24 September 1996 / Revised: 19 January 1997 / Accepted: 24 January 1997