Talanta 46 (1998) 423–437
Methods for chemical analysis of contaminated soil
samples — tests of their reproducibility between Nordic
laboratories
K.H. Karstensen
a,
*, O. Ringstad
a
, I. Rustad
a
, K. Kalevi
b
, K. Jørgensen
b
,
K. Nylund
c
, T. Alsberg
c
, K. O
´
lafsdo ´ ttir
d
, O. Heidenstam
e
, H. Solberg
f
a
SINTEF, P. O. Box 124, N-0314 Oslo, Norway
b
Finnish Enironment Institute, Hakuninmaantie 4 -6, FIN-00430 Helsinki, Finland
c
ITM, Stockholm Uniersity, S -106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
d
Department of Pharmacology, Uniersity of Iceland, P. O. Box 8216, IS -128 Reykjaik, Iceland
e
Swedish Enironmental Protection Agency, S -10648 Stockholm, Sweden
f
Norwegian Pollution Control Authority, P. O. Box 8100 Dep., N-0314 Oslo, Norway
Received 25 May 1997; accepted 14 October 1997
Abstract
In an effort to develop common analytical methods for contaminated soil samples the Environmental Authorities
of the Nordic countries have, together with Nordtest, published the report Nordic Guidelines for Chemical Analysis
of Contaminated Soil Samples. The aim of these guidelines has been to describe analytical methods which could be
accepted in all the Nordic countries and in that way contribute to reducing the variation in the analytical results
between laboratories. The methods covered, reflects environmental concerns and priorities in the Nordic countries for
now, i.e. heavy metals, chlorophenols, creosote, volatile organic compounds, PCB, THC and PAH. The repeatability
and reproducibility of the guideline methods were determined in a Nordic inter-laboratory test in 1996, and the results
showed some variations. The analytical methods and the results from the inter-laboratory tests are given for heavy
metals, chlorophenols, creosote, volatile organic compounds and PCB. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights
reserved.
Keywords: Contaminated soil; Chemical analysis; Reproducibility; Nordic laboratories; Heavy metals
1. Introduction
Extensive work has been and is being done to
identify and remediate landfills and hazardous
‘waste’ contaminated sites, the so called ‘past
sins’, in Nordic countries. When facing the large
costs for cleaning up contaminated sites, it is
necessary that chemical analysis provides a foun-
dation for cleanup efforts to be comparable, re-
producible and reliable.
Sample treatment and preparation, along with
chemical analysis are often performed differently * Corresponding author.
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