scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for quantitative determination of organochlorine pesticides and semi-volatile chlorobenzenes in soil and sediment, using GC-MS and GC-ECD (see Table 2). The limit of detection and the limit of application depends on the determinants, the sample intake, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract. Under the conditions specified in this document, lower limits of application from 1 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for soils to 10 μg/kg (expressed as dry matter) for sediments can be achieved. The necessity to achieve these lower limits of application depends on the analyses order and the current limit values. Soils and sediments may differ in properties as well as in the expected contamination levels of OCP and the presence of interfering substances. These differences make it impossible to describe one general procedure. Based on the properties of the samples, this document contains decision tables regarding drying-, extraction- and clean-up procedures to be used. This method is "performance based". It is permitted to modify the method if all performance criteria given in this method are met. The method may be applied to the analysis of other chlorinated compounds not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.