title: Development of an ombrotrophic peat bog (low ash) reference material for the determination of elemental concentrations.
abstract: Given the increasing interest in using peat bogs as archives of atmospheric metal deposition, the lack of validated sample preparation methods and suitable certified reference materials has hindered not only the quality assurance of the generated analytical data but also the interpretation and comparison of peat core metal profiles from different laboratories in the international community. Reference materials play an important role in the evaluation of the accuracy of analytical results and are essential parts of good laboratory practice. An ombrotrophic peat bog reference material has been developed by 14 laboratories from nine countries in an inter-laboratory comparison between February and October 2002. The material has been characterised for both acid-extractable and total concentrations of a range of elements, including Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Ti, V and Zn. The steps involved in the production of the reference material (i.e. collection and preparation, homogeneity and stability studies, and certification) are described in detail.
authors.affiliation: School of GeoSciences, Joseph Black Building, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yafa
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbante
authors.forename: W R L
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bindler
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Renberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheburkin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Emons
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Handley
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krachler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shotyk
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez-Cortizas
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Pulford
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: MacIver
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schweyer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinnes
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Sjøbakk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolgopolova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kylander
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements