Overview

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are priority substances listed in Annex X of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) for which environmental quality standards (EQS) have been set at EU level for inland as well as other surface waters to protect the aquatic environment against chemical pollution (Directive 2008/105/EC). With the exception of metals, the EQSs are expressed as total concentrations in the whole water sample. Furthermore, analytical methods used in WFD monitoring need to meet certain requirements as regards the minimum limit of quantification and the maximum tolerable measurement uncertainty (Directive 2009/90/EC). So far, there is no standardized method available for the determination of PAH in whole water samples fulfilling those requirements. Hence, the European Commission mandated CEN to develop or improve standards in support of the implementation of the monitoring requirements of WFD. Directive 2008/105/EC has been amended by Directive 2013/39/EU, however, this standard has been developed for the analysis of PAH as listed in Annex A of Directive 2008/105/EC. This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of 7 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in whole water samples listed in Table 1. The method uses solid-phase disk extraction with SPE-disks followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It is applicable to the analysis of PAHs in surface water containing suspended particulate matter (SPM) up to 500 mg/l (whole water samples), drinking water and groundwater. The lower and upper limit of the working range depends on the matrix, on the specific compound to be analyzed and on the sensitivity of the mass spectrometric detection unit. The limit of quantification (LOQ) determined in the validation is given in Table 1. The upper limit of the working range is approximately 2 000 ng/l. This method is, with some modifications, suitable for the analysis of waste water. This method is applicable to other PAH1), provided the method is validated for each PAH. This document (EN 16691:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 "Water analysis", the secretariat of which is held by DIN (Germany). The responsible German committee is Subcommittee NA 119-01-03-02 UA "Organische Verbindungen" ("Organic compounds") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water examination") at DIN Standards Committee Water Practice (NAW).

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03-02 UA - Organic compounds  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis