scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of tetra to hepta- Dioxin-like
polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in waters and waste waters (containing less than 1 % suspended solids) using high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The method is optimised for Dioxin-like PCBs, but may include other co-planar compounds such as Polychlorinated Dioxins and Furans (PCDDs/PCDFs), Polychlorinated Naphthalenes (PCNs) and Polychlorinated Diphenylethers (PCDEs). This method may be used to determine Dioxin-like PCBs in other matrices (e.g. biota, sediments, air), however additional cleanup steps and techniques may be required for samples with high organic loadings.
It is applicable to the 12 non- and mono- ortho PCBs designated by the World Health Organization as well as other PCBs and co-planar compounds.
The detection limits and quantification levels in this method are dependent on the level of interferences as well as instrumental limitations. The minimum levels (ML) in Table 2 are the levels at which the Dioxin-like PCBs can typically be determined with no interferences present.
This method is .performance based". The analyst is permitted to modify the method to overcome interferences or lower the cost of measurements, provided that all performance criteria in this method are met. The requirements for establishing method equivalency are given in 9.1.2.