Results of an interlaboratory comparison on the determination of polybrominated flame retardants in poly(ethyleneterephthalate)

An intercomparison to establish the performance of routine laboratories in the determination of polybrominated flame retardants in polymers was organised. Commercial poly(ethyleneterephthalate) was fortified with technical pentabromodiphenyl ether, octabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ether mixtures and with a decabromobiphenyl technical mixture at 0.4–0.8 g/kg. Homogeneity and stability of the total Br content in the material was confirmed. Thirty-seven laboratories from Europe, Asia and the Americas submitted results. Relative repeatability standard deviations for individual congeners ranged from 7 to 17%. Relative between-laboratory standard deviations ranged from 22 to 61%. No significant influence of a common standard, application of a standard method or method parameters could be identified. The quality and uncertainty of the results of this study are significantly worse than those reported in the environmental field and indicate a clear need for a learning process among the laboratories involved. Figure Mandel’s h (between labs): critical level: 1.91