Minimum requirements for reporting analytical data for environmental
samples (IUPAC Technical Report)
HANS EGLI1,**, MANOS DASSENAKIS2, HEMDA GARELICK3,
RENÉ VAN GRIEKEN4, W. J. G. M. PEIJNENBURG5,
LEO KLASINC6, WERNER KÖRDEL7, NICK PRIEST3,
AND TANIA TAVARES8
1Syngenta Crop Protection AG, CH-4002 Basel,
Switzerland; 2University of Athens, Department of Chemistry,
GR-15 771 Athens, Greece; 3Middlessex University, School
of Health and Social Sciences, London, N11 2NQ, UK; 4Universitaire
Instelling Antwerpen, Departement Scheikunde, B-2610 Antwerpen, Belgium;
5RIVM, Laboratory for Ecotoxicology, NL-3720 BA Bilthoven,
The Netherlands; 6Rudjer Boskovic Institute, HR-10001 Zagreb,
Croatia; 7Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and
Applied Ecology, D-57377 Schmallenberg, Germany; 8Universidade
Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Química, 40.170-290 Salvador,
Bahia, Brasil
Abstract: In view of the significance of environmental analytical
data, it is essential that the quality of both sampling strategy and
analysis be assured and that procedures used, as well as all relevant
additional information, are reported. There is a minimum level of information
required in order to guarantee the fitness-for-use of the data. Emanating
from discussions on the fundamental problems of the analysis of environmental
samples for chemical or biological contaminants, a general guidance
is given regarding the minimum information that should be provided to
adequately describe the sampling strategy, method of sampling, sample
properties, handling between sampling and analysis (including storage
conditions, pretreatments, homogenization, subsampling), and the analytical
methodology (including calculation and validation procedures). Special
attention and specific guidance are given for the environmental compartments
soil, pore water, groundwater, inland surface water, sediment, seawater,
precipitation water, and air.