Bi-ennial Global Interlaboratory Assessment on Persistent Organic Pollutants – Fourth Round 2018/2019

The fourth Bi-ennial Global Interlaboratory Assessment on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was organized in 2018. After invitation to participate in this fourth round of the proficiency test, 148 laboratories from 62 countries had registered. In comparison to the 3rd round in which 175 laboratories had registered, this was somewhat lower. However, again several new laboratories (participating for the first time) joined this exercise. The test materials included test solutions of analytical standards, the abiotic matrices included sediment, air (extract) and water and the biotic matrices were fish, human milk and human plasma. The results for the 23 groups of POPs that were listed in the annexes of the Stockholm Convention until 2013 and in addition hexachlorobutadiene, pentachlorobenzene, -HCH, -HCH, -HCH, -endosulfan, -endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate were assessed. This resulted in a report with a wealth of information on POP analysis and a huge dataset from which the laboratories can evaluate their own methods and performance.