Certification for Trace Elements and Methyl Mercury Mass Fractions in IAEA-456 Marine Sediment Sample

Marine sediment certified reference material (CRM), IAEA-456 was recently produced by the Environment Laboratories of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and certified for trace elements and methyl mercury (CH3Hg). This paper presents the sample preparation methodology, material homogeneity and stability studies, evaluation of results from the characterisation campaign, the assignment of property values and their associated uncertainty. The reference values and associated expanded uncertainty for nine trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and CH3Hg in marine sediment sample are established. The new CRM can be used for the development and validation of analytical methods, for the determination of trace elements and methyl mercury in sediments and also for quality assurance/quality control purposes.