Preparation,homogeneity and stability studies of a candidate LRM for Se speciation

A laboratory reference material (LRM) was prepared from Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) for quality control (QC) purposes of selenium speciation. The preparation of this LRM led through the usual operation steps applied during routine reference material production from biota samples-preparation of the raw material, homogenisation, storage design, checking of homogeneity, microbiological status and possible irradiation effects, and monitoring the species stability vs time at different storage temperatures. The selenium speciation studies to check species stability were carried out on a HPLC-UV-HG-AFS measurement set-up. Special attention was paid to the correct identification of selenium species by applying independent HPLC separation techniques (ion-pairing and anion-exchange chromatography). The concentration of selenomethionine (SeMet) and total Se content were quantified (79.9 microg g(-1) (calculated as Se) and 82.9 microg g(-1), respectively). The homogeneity and stability of this candidate reference material passed the relevant tests recommended by Bureau Communautaire de Référence (BCR).     

Selenium in electrolytic manganese as a reference material for the quality control of aluminium melts

Electrolytic manganese is an important alloying element for aluminium and steel melts. It is mainly added to melts of aluminium in the holding furnace as tablets or minitablets (compressed compacts of manganese and aluminium powders). Selenium derivates are usually added during the production of electrolytic manganese, so some selenium is present in the alloys produced when electrolytic manganese is added to the aluminium furnace. Since the selenium contents of many alloys are of concern from health and environmental perspectives, their values should be provided. In this work, a laboratory reference material (LRM) based on electrolytic manganese was produced to assure our routine quality control method, where selenium is analysed by hydride generation followed by optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (HG–ICP–OES). Therefore, the present paper describes in detail the preparation procedure for and the results from homogeneity and stability studies performed on electrolytic manganese LRM. For this purpose, a commercial electrolytic manganese lot was selected and the main factors involved in the preparation of the material (pretreatment step, homogenization, bottling and storage) were carefully studied and established in order to guarantee the long-term stability of the LRM. The results obtained showed that the LRM developed was a fit-for-purpose material for the quality control of the routine analysis of selenium.     

贻贝中多环芳烃标准物质的研制

研究了贻贝中多环芳烃标准物质的制备方法,对制得的标准物质进行了均匀性、稳定性检验,统计计算检验结果并确定了定值数据。研制的贻贝中多环芳烃标准物质均匀性良好,在一年保存期内稳定,可用于海洋环境监测中。     

Effect of addition of antibiotics and an antioxidant on the stability of tissue reference materials for domoic acid,the amnesic shellfish poison

Five separate reference materials (RMs) were prepared from a mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue containing domoic acid (DA) from scallop hepatopancreas (Pecten maximus). Homogenates were separately spiked with antibiotics, an antioxidant, or a combination of both. Control materials did not contain any additives and were prepared from lightly cooked and autoclaved mussel tissues. Stability studies were run over a 148-day period at three different temperature conditions: −20 °C, +4 °C and +40 °C. DA contents in all materials were characterised by HPLC-UV. Homogeneities were demonstrated at the beginning of the study, with coefficients of variance of less than 4% (n = 9). DA was stable at −20 °C in all materials. The control materials showed significant degradation after two days at +40 °C, and after eight days at +4 °C. Each of the materials containing additives demonstrated better stability during the initial period of the study. In addition there was no significant degradation in any of the materials with additives stored at +4 °C over the duration of the study. The material containing a combination of the antibiotics and the antioxidant displayed the best stability of all the materials. There was no significant reduction in DA concentration at all temperature conditions after eight days, and after 32 days the decrease at +40 °C was still <20 %. Following this, a DA laboratory reference material (LRM) was prepared and, based on previous results, spiked with both the antioxidant and antibiotics. A short-term stability study on this material gave similar results to the corresponding material in the additives study. This study shows that combined use of the additives investigated in the preparation of a mussel tissue reference material for DA ensures analyte stability for a period of up to eight days at temperatures of up to +40 °C, a condition that is particularly important when shipping test materials globally. Aliquots of individual feasibility materials used in the study     

Standard reference materials (SRMs) for determination of organic contaminants in environmental samples

For the past 25 years the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed certified reference materials (CRMs), known as standard reference materials (SRMs), for determination of organic contaminants in environmental matrices. Assignment of certified concentrations has usually been based on combining results from two or more independent analytical methods. The first-generation environmental-matrix SRMs were issued with certified concentrations for a limited number (5 to 10) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Improvements in the analytical certification approach significantly expanded the number and classes of contaminants determined. Environmental-matrix SRMs currently available include air and diesel particulate matter, coal tar, marine and river sediment, mussel tissue, fish oil and tissue, and human serum, with concentrations typically assigned for 50 to 90 organic contaminants, for example PAHs, nitro-substituted PAHs, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Analytical procedure for the analysis of PAHs in biological tissues by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry: application to mussels

A rapid, selective and sensitive procedure for the analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biological organisms has been developed and validated. The freeze-dried tissues were digested in ethanolic KOH. After solvent partitioning, the extract was purified on alumina and silica micro-columns and finally analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The final extract was free of most of the endogenous compounds. A quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) was carried out. The absolute loss of the target compounds at different stages of the analytical procedure and during all of the procedure was estimated (losses<45%). The recoveries of PAHs were estimated using a certified standard compound solution (recoveries>90%) and spiked mussels (recoveries=100±6%). For validation a certified reference material mussel tissue (recoveries= 90±16%) was analyzed.     

High resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS) determination and multivariate evaluation of 10 trace elements in mussels from 7 sites in Limfjorden, Denmark

The contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Rb, Cd, Ba, and Pb in the soft tissue of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) were determined by a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS) method. Sample digestions were performed in closed microwave vessels using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Using HR-ICPMS it is possible to resolve the analytical peaks from otherwise interfering polyatomic ions with a mass resolution setting of 4,000 (Cr, Ni, Cu). The proposed method was validated using a mussel tissue reference material (NIST SRM 2974). The proposed method was applied to real samples of blue mussel from seven sites in the inlet "Limfjorden", Denmark, and the levels of trace elements found were compared with the levels found in an earlier study. For the mussel samples large inter-regional differences in trace element concentrations in the tissues were recorded. The mussels from the different sites could be separated using principal component analysis (PCA). Comparison with the levels of trace elements in mussels found in 1982 showed that the trace elemental contamination has increased during the last 15 years. From the data obtained, mussel tissue appears to be good bio-indicator for identification of coastal areas exposed to metallic contaminants.     

Three new mussel tissue standard reference materials (SRMs) for the determination of organic contaminants

Three new mussel tissue standard reference materials (SRMs) have been developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the determination of the concentrations of organic contaminants. The most recently prepared material, SRM 1974b, is a fresh frozen tissue homogenate prepared from mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. The other two materials, SRMs 2977 and 2978, are freeze-dried tissue homogenates prepared from mussels collected in Guanabara Bay, Brazil and Raritan Bay, New Jersey, respectively. All three new mussel tissue SRMs complement the current suite of marine natural-matrix SRMs available from NIST that are characterized for a wide range of contaminants (organic and inorganic). SRM 1974b has been developed to replace its predecessor SRM 1974a, Organics in Mussel Tissue, for which the supply is depleted. Similarly, SRMs 2977 and 2978 were developed to replace a previously available (supply depleted) freeze-dried version of SRM 1974a, SRM 2974, Organics in Freeze-Dried Mussel Tissue. SRM 1974b is the third in a series of fresh frozen mussel tissue homogenate SRMs prepared from mussels collected in Boston Harbor starting in 1988. SRM 1974b has certified concentration values for 22 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 31 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), and 7 chlorinated pesticides. Reference values are provided for additional constituents: 16 PAHs, 8 PCBs plus total PCBs, 6 pesticides, total extractable organics, methylmercury, and 11 trace elements. PAH concentrations range from about 2 ng g^–1 dry mass (cyclopenta[cd]pyrene) to 180 ng g^–1 dry mass (pyrene). PCB concentrations range from about 2 ng g^–1 dry mass (PCB 157) to 120 ng g^–1 dry mass (PCB 153). The reference value for total PCBs in SRM 1974b is (2020 ± 420) ng g^–1 dry mass. Pesticide concentrations range from about 4 ng g^–1 dry mass (4,4-DDT) to 40 ng g^–1 dry mass (4,4-DDE). SRM 2977 has certified values for 14 PAHs, 25 PCB congeners, 7 pesticides, 6 trace elements, and methylmercury. Reference values for 16 additional PAHs and 9 inorganic constituents are provided, and information values are given for 23 additional trace elements. SRM 2978 has certified and reference concentrations for 41 and 22 organic compounds, respectively, and contains contaminant levels similar to those of SRM 1974b. Organic contaminant levels in SRM 2977 (mussels from Guanabara Bay, Brazil) are typically a factor of 2 to 4 lower than those in SRM 1974b and SRM 2978. The organic contaminant concentrations in each new mussel tissue SRM are presented and compared in this paper. In addition, a chronological review of contaminant concentrations associated with mussels collected in Boston Harbor is discussed as well as a stability assessment of SRM 1974a.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.     

High resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS) determination and multivariate evaluation of 10 trace elements in mussels from 7 sites in Limfjorden, Denmark

The contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Rb, Cd, Ba, and Pb in the soft tissue of blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) were determined by a high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICPMS) method. Sample digestions were performed in closed microwave vessels using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Using HR-ICPMS it is possible to resolve the analytical peaks from otherwise interfering polyatomic ions with a mass resolution setting of 4000 (Cr, Ni, Cu). The proposed method was validated using a mussel tissue reference material (NIST SRM 2974). The proposed method was applied to real samples of blue mussel from seven sites in the inlet “Limfjorden”, Denmark, and the levels of trace elements found were compared with the levels found in an earlier study. For the mussel samples large inter-regional differences in trace element concentrations in the tissues were recorded. The mussels from the different sites could be separated using principal component analysis (PCA). Comparison with the levels of trace elements in mussels found in 1982 showed that the trace elemental contamination has increased during the last 15 years. From the data obtained, mussel tissue appears to be good bio-indicator for identification of coastal areas exposed to metallic contaminants.     

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and chlorinated pesticides in a fish tissue standard reference material

The concentrations of a wide range of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides in a fish tissue Standard Reference Material (SRM) have been determined using multiple methods of analysis. This material, SRM 1946, Lake Superior Fish Tissue, was recently issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and complements a suite of marine environmental natural-matrix SRMs that are currently available from NIST for the determination of organic contaminants such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and chlorinated pesticides. SRM 1946 is a fresh tissue homogenate (frozen) prepared from filleted adult lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush) collected from the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior. SRM 1946 has certified and reference concentrations for PCB congeners, including the three non- ortho PCB congeners, and chlorinated pesticides. Certified concentrations are available for 30 PCB congeners and 15 chlorinated pesticides. Reference concentrations are available for 12 PCB congeners and 2 chlorinated pesticides. In addition, SRM 1946 is characterized for additional chemical constituents and properties: fatty acids, extractable fat, methylmercury, total mercury, selected trace elements, proximates, and caloric content. The characterization of chlorinated compounds is described in this paper with an emphasis on the approach used for the certification of the concentrations of PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides. The PCB congener and chlorinated pesticide data are also compared to concentrations in other marine natural-matrix reference materials available from NIST (fish oil, mussel tissue, whale blubber, and a second fresh frozen fish tissue homogenate prepared from filleted adult lake trout collected from Lake Michigan) and from other organizations such as the National Research Council Canada (ground whole carp), the International Atomic Energy Agency (fish homogenate), and the European Commission Joint Research Centre [fish oils (cod and mackerel) and mussel tissue].     

贻贝中有机氯农药和多氯联苯标准物质的研制及同位素稀释高分辨质谱法定值

建立了贻贝中有机氯农药(OCPs)和多氯联苯(PCBs)标准物质的研制和定值方法,该研究对我国开展环境生物标准物质的研制具有重要的方法学借鉴价值。该标准物质样品为采自大连湾海域的贻贝,其定值目标物包括18种OCPs和16种PCBs,采用的定值测量方法是目前世界上最权威、最准确的同位素稀释-高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱联用法(ID-HRGC/HRMS)。所研制的标准物质具有定值目标物种类多、不确定度较小(约10%)等特点。该标准物质是目前国际上唯一一种采用同位素稀释高分辨质谱法进行定值的底栖生物中OCPs标准物质,于2012年3月通过了国家一级标准物质的终审,并于2012年6月被国家质量监督检验检疫总局批准为国家一级标准物质(GBW10069)。该标准物质可用于食品安全控制、环境监测、质量检测等领域相关分析方法的评价、测量质量控制及技术仲裁检验等。     

A matrix solid-phase dispersion-gel permeation chromatography-programmed temperature vaporisation-GC-MS procedure for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mussel samples

A simultaneous matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction-gel permeation chromatography cleanup with programmed temperature vaporisation GC-MS determination is proposed for the analysis of parent and alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mussel samples. The parameters affecting the extraction and elution efficiency were studied. Final conditions were: 0.5?g of mussel sample, 0.5?g diatomaceous earth as dispersant; and 4?g of Bio-Beads S-X3 for the gel permeation chromatography. Ethyl acetate/hexane (1:1, v/v) was selected for the elimination of the lipid fraction and the elution of PAHs. The detection and quantification limits achieved with this procedure were between 0.01?μg/kg and 0.67?μg/kg and 0.02?μg/kg and 1.93?μg/kg, respectively. The linearity of the method ranged between 5?μg/kg and 1000?μg/kg for most of the studied PAHs. The method was validated by the analysis of mussel tissue reference material (SRM 2977). The repeatability, intermediate precision and accuracy of the method obtained are in excellent agreement with the certified values. The proposed method is simple, precise and robust; no special instruments or costly equipment are required, and a reduction in the total time of analysis, sample handling and solvent consumption is achieved in comparison with classic procedures.     

Characterization of organic arsenic compounds in bivalves

Water-soluble arsenic compounds were extracted with methanol/water (1:1, v/v) from various species of bivalves and also from certified reference materials (NIES No. 6, mussel tissue, and NBS 1566, oyster tissue). The extracts were analyzed with a high-performance liquid chromatograph combined with an inductively coupled argon plasma mass spectrometer serving as an arsenic-specific detector. A certified reference material (NIES No. 6) was used to check the reproducibility of the analysis. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the peak area of major arsenic compounds among repeated measurements (n = 6) on the same extrct were less than 3.3%, indicating good reproducibility of the technique. The RSDs of some peaks among measurements of independent extracts, on the other hand, were more than 10%, possibly reflecting the heterogeneity of the sample in terms of the chemical species under the present experimental conditions. In many of the samples analyzed in the present study, two arsenic-containing ribofuranosides were detected in addition to arsenobetaine. A compound bearing a glycerophosphoryl glycerol moiety was dominant in such cases. Interestingly, a bivalve living in an estuary (Corbicula japonica) did not contain a detectable amount of arsenobetaine though it had arsenic-containing ribofuranosides. The distribution of arsenic species in the various parts of a clam (Meretrix lusoria) and a mussel (Mytilus coruscum) was also analyzed.     

A clean up step of fat content previous to trace metal characterization in mussel tissues by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of trace and major elements of mussel tissues can be quickly and accurately analyzed after cleaning up the interfering fat content before the sample is digested in a microwave oven. Making use of experimental designs, the clean up procedure was achieved by the extraction of 1 g of freeze-dried tissue sample stirred with 5 ml of dichloromethane during five minutes. The microwave assisted digestion of the fat free samples was carried out with 0.2 g of tissue sample, 15 ml of 7.0% nitric acid with a power of 980 W during 18 min. The analytical method efficiency (accuracy and precision) was evaluated with a CRM: (NIST 2977, mussel tissue) and real mussel samples analyzed previously. The results confirmed the accuracy of the analysis by agreement with the previous results but the precision was significantly improved. The developed method allows operating routinely permitting to large numbers of samples to be quickly screened for trace metals.     

Development of caprine liver quality control materials for trace element analysis of biological tissues

Certified reference materials (CRMs) are used in analytical chemistry for method validation studies in order to establish measurement accuracy, traceability, and long-term stability throughout repeated analyses. Quality control (QC) during routine analysis requires access to stable materials appropriate for the sample matrix being analyzed. However, it may be difficult to find representative, low-cost QC materials, especially for specific analytes in biological tissue matrices. Here, four caprine liver pools are prepared for use as internal QC materials for trace element measurements in biological tissue. Analytes of interest include essential and nonessential trace elements and the lanthanide series elements. The suitability of caprine liver to serve as a secondary reference material (RM), as well as for routine QC purposes, is demonstrated through homogeneity and stability measurements, and the acquisition of precision and uncertainty data. Traceability is established for selected analytes for which available CRMs can provide an unbroken chain of calibrations.     

Development of reference materials for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

A project was undertaken to develop mussel reference materials that were certified for their mass fractions of saxitoxin and decarbamoyl-saxitoxin. Fifteen laboratories from various European countries participated. Three of these had major responsibility for substantial parts of the work and overall coordination of the project. The project involved 4 main activities: (1) procurement and characterization of calibrants; (2) improvement of analytical methodology; (3) preparation of reference materials, including homogeneity and stability studies; (4) 2 interlaboratory studies and a certification exercise. The joint activities resulted in 3 homogeneous and stable reference materials: 2 lyophilized mussel materials with and without naturally incurred paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, and a saxitoxin enrichment solution. The reference materials were certified with respect to their saxitoxin and decarbamoyl-saxitoxin content. The lyophilized mussel material with PSP toxins (CRM 542) contained <0.07 mg saxitoxin x 2HCl/kg and 1.59 +/- 0.20 mg decarbamoyl-saxitoxin x 2HCl/kg. The lyophilized mussel material without PSP toxins (CRM 543) contained <0.07 mg saxitoxin x 2HCl/kg and <0.04 mg decarbamoyl-saxitoxin x 2HCl/kg. The certified value of the saxitoxin mass fraction in the saxitoxin enrichment solution (CRM 663) was 9.8 +/- 1.2 microg/g.     

Evaluation of the physiologically based extraction test as an indicator of metal toxicity in mussel tissue

In order to estimate the bioaccessibility of metals from mussel tissues, an in vitro physiologically based extraction test was applied to simulate the human gastrointestinal conditions. The samples were subjected to human body temperature, and Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Sn were sequentially extracted with simulated gastric solution, followed by extraction with a simulated intestinal solution. Both gastric and intestinal extracted solutions and microwave-digested residue were analysed by ICP-MS. The procedure was applied to a certified reference material NIST 2977 (mussel tissue) to prove the accuracy of the method. Some mussel tissue samples from Northern Spain were subjected to this procedure to determine their metal content and their metal oral bioaccessibility.     

Comparison of shelf-life appraisal techniques for the estimation of the limiting date of stability for agrifood reference materials

Reference materials play a major role for the verification of the quality control of biological and chemical analysis. Due to the poor availability of certified reference materials, external reference materials (ERM) are intensively developing in complement and as a consequence of proficiency testing schemes (PTS). However, the use of any reference material must be time-limited, whereas the assigned reference value may change with time and it is under the responsibility of the material producer to indicate the date until this can be used for calibration purpose with some guarantee. This article compares different methods used to determine the limiting date of stability (LDS) in food and food-related reference materials, using some specific analytes (moisture, protein and oil contents) as stability-monitoring analytes. LDS is defined as the moment when the assigned values of one or several analytes can no longer be guaranteed by the producer. For most of the ERMs used as examples (i.e., rapeseed, bread wheat, durum wheat) the calculated periods of stability were longer than the present storage times used in BIPEA. However, for sunflower, the rapid degradation of the monitoring analytes indicates a shorter time than forecast.     

Certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations

The certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations is described. The material was prepared under rigorously controlled conditions to avoid extraneous additions. Analytical data were obtained by the authors as well as by numerous other intra- and extra-mural investigators, solicited on the basis of established experience in determining selected elements. For 14 trace elements (aluminium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, bromine, rubidium, molybdenum, cadmium and caesium) certified values (in ng g^?1 or μg g^?1 dry weight) are listed; for an additional element (nickel) a best estimate (in ng g^? dry weight) is added. Trace element concentrations in the material, which is available to the scientific community, closely approximate those in normal, lyophilized blood plasma or serum samples. The material thus provides the means to check the accuracy and precision of analytical procedures for quantifying low-level trace elements in the best possible conditions and to detect errors that can easily be overlooked when reference materials with higher levels of trace elements are used. In addition, and in contrast to already existing biological reference materials with high levels of trace elements, it offers the possibility of identifying unsuspected errors at the sample preparation stage.