scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (see Figure 1 and Table 1) in sediment and sludge using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) or negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) mode. When using GC-EI-MS, the method is applicable to samples containing 0,05 µg/kg to 25 µg/kg of tetra- to octabromo congeners and 0,3 µg/kg to 100 µg/kg of decabromo diphenyl ether (BDE-209), respectively. Approximately ten times lower concentrations can be quantified when using GC-NCI-MS. The risk of misinterpretation of interfering substances is smaller with EI due to its higher specificity. It is also possible to analyse other brominated diphenyl ethers according to this International Standard, after verifying its applicability in each case.