Seawater

Sea coast covered with wite salt

Back to WEPAL-QUASIMEME

Back

Participation in our seawater programmes (AQ) is open to all laboratories. The normal validated methods and procedures of each laboratory should be used to analyse the test materials. Laboratories are requested to fill in method information codes (MIC) for each determinand. This allows laboratories to review the range and similarity of the methodologies used.

Go to:

Determinand GroupSample TypeExercise

Nutrients

High salinity seawater

AQ1

Nutrients

Estuarine and low salinity seawater

AQ2

Metals

High and low salinity seawater

AQ3

Mercury

High and low salinity seawater

AQ4

Halogenated organics

High and low salinity seawater

AQ5

Volatile organics

High salinity seawater

AQ6

Pentachlorophenol

High salinity seawater

AQ7

Pesticides

High and low salinity seawater

AQ8

Chlorophyll and Pheopigments

Estuarine and fresh water

AQ11

Organotins

High salinity seawater

AQ12

PAHs

High and low salinity seawater

AQ13

DOC

High and estuarine seawater

AQ14

Ocean acidification (total alkalinity, DIC and pH)

High and low salinity seawater

AQ15

Polar/nonpolar compounds

Sampler(s)

DE13

Microplastics

Diverse matrices

DE17

PFAS

(Sea)water

DE18

Pharmaceuticals

(Sea)water

DE19

  1. Determinand Group

    Nutrients

    Sample Type

    High salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ1

  2. Determinand Group

    Nutrients

    Sample Type

    Estuarine and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ2

  3. Determinand Group

    Metals

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ3

  4. Determinand Group

    Mercury

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ4

  5. Determinand Group

    Halogenated organics

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ5

  6. Determinand Group

    Volatile organics

    Sample Type

    High salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ6

  7. Determinand Group

    Pentachlorophenol

    Sample Type

    High salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ7

  8. Determinand Group

    Pesticides

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ8

  9. Determinand Group

    Chlorophyll and Pheopigments

    Sample Type

    Estuarine and fresh water

    Exercise

    AQ11

  10. Determinand Group

    Organotins

    Sample Type

    High salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ12

  11. Determinand Group

    PAHs

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ13

  12. Determinand Group

    DOC

    Sample Type

    High and estuarine seawater

    Exercise

    AQ14

  13. Determinand Group

    Ocean acidification (total alkalinity, DIC and pH)

    Sample Type

    High and low salinity seawater

    Exercise

    AQ15

  14. Determinand Group

    Polar/nonpolar compounds

    Sample Type

    Sampler(s)

    Exercise

    DE13

  15. Determinand Group

    Microplastics

    Sample Type

    Diverse matrices

    Exercise

    DE17

  16. Determinand Group

    PFAS

    Sample Type

    (Sea)water

    Exercise

    DE18

  17. Determinand Group

    Pharmaceuticals

    Sample Type

    (Sea)water

    Exercise

    DE19

General Information

  • Seawater samples are mainly prepared from seawater originating from the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic sea and estuarine water to cover water samples with varying salinity. For chlorophyll samples sometimes freshwater is used.
  • Water samples are filtered using a 0.45µm / 0.2µm double membrane filter.
  • The water samples are stable for the period of the test when stored properly.
  • All seawater samples are prepared in bulk and tested for its homogeneity where relevant.
  • Use your normal validated methods and procedures to analyse the test materials.
  • Some of the PT samples (AQ5; AQ7; AQ8; AQ12 and AQ13) need to be spiked in your own laboratory because of stability issues.
  • New determinands can be added to these programs on request.
  • Reports contain all data reported under strict confidentiality, including Z-score plots and method information of methods used.

Determinands

The list below shows the typical determinands for the seawater, estuarine water and freshwater Programme. For a list of determinands which are under the scope of accreditation please check here.

Analyte groupTypical analytesExercise

Brominated flame retardants

BDE28, BDE47, BDE49, BDE66, BDE85, BDE99, BDE100, BDE126, BDE153, BDE154, BDE183, BDE209, TBBP-A, Dimethyl-TBBP-A, a-HBCD, b-HBCD, g-HBCD, Total HBCD, BTBPE, DBDPE, HBBz, EHTBB, EHTEBP

DE13

Dissolved Organic Carbon

DOC

AQ14

Metals

Arsenic, Boron, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Silver, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Vanadium, Uranium, Zinc

AQ3, AQ4

Microplastics

Total number of particles, Total mass of particles

DE17

Nutrients

Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Silicate, TOTAL-N, TOTAL-P, TOxN

AQ1. AQ2

Ocean acidification

Dissolved Inorganic Carbon, Total Alkalinity, pH

AQ15

OPs&Herb

Aclonifen, Alachlor, Atrazine, Atrazine-desethyl, Azinphos-ethyl, Azinphos-methyl, Bifenox, Bifenthrin, Chlorfenvinphos, Chlorpyrifos, Chlotianidin, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Demeton, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, Dicofol, Dimethoate, Diuron, Esfenvalerate, Fenchlorophos, Fenitrothion, Fenthion, Glyphosate, Imidacloprid, Irgarol-1051, Isoproturon, Malathion, Nicosulfuron, Omethoate, Parathion-ethyl, Parathion-methyl, Permethrin, Quinoxyfen, Simazine, Terbutryn, Terbuthylazine, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Triazophos, Triclosan

AQ7

Organometals

Dibutyltin(DBT), Diphenyltin(DPhT), Monobutyltin(MBT), Monophenyltin(MPhT), Tributyltin(TBT), Triphenyltin(TPhT)

AQ12

PCBs&OCP

a-HCH, b-HCH, g-HCH, d-HCH, HCB, HCBD, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Isodrin, pp'-DDD, pp'-DDE, op'-DDT, pp'-DDT, Endosulphan-I, Endosulphan-II, Pentachlorobenzene, 1-2-3-TCB, 1-2-4-TCB, 1-3-5-TCB, Trifluralin, PCB28, PCB31, PCB52, PCB101, PCB105, PCB118, PCB138, PCB138+PCB163, PCB153, PCB156, PCB180, Heptachlor, Heptachlorepoxide, Pentachlorophenol

AQ7, DE13

Perfluorinated alkyl substances

PFOS, PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA, L-PFBS, L-PFHxS, L-PFHpS, PFOSA, PFDS, PFODA, GenX, F-53B, PFBSA, PFHxSA, NMeFOSAA and NEtFOSAA

DE18

Pigments

Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b, Chlorophyll-c, Pheopigments, Chlorophyll-a (Corr), Chlorophyll-a (HPLC), Chlorophyll-b (HPLC), Chlorophyll-c (HPLC)

AQ11

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Acenaphthene, Acenaphthylene, Anthracene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Chrysene, Dibenzo[ah]anthracene, Fluorene, Fluoranthene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, Pyrene, Total petroleum hydrocarbons

AQ13, DE13

Salinity

Salinity, Salinity indicative

AQ1, AQ2

VOCs

Benzene, Carbon-tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Chloroform, 2-chlorotoluene, 4-chlorotoluene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1-2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, trans-1,2-dichloroethene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene, Isopropylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Styrene, tert-bytylbenzene, 1,1,1,2-tetrachlorethane, Tetrachloroethene, Trichlorethene, 1-1-1-trichloroethane, 1-1-2-trichloroethane, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, Toluene, m+p-Xylene, o-Xylene

AQ6

  1. Analyte group

    Brominated flame retardants

    Typical analytes

    BDE28, BDE47, BDE49, BDE66, BDE85, BDE99, BDE100, BDE126, BDE153, BDE154, BDE183, BDE209, TBBP-A, Dimethyl-TBBP-A, a-HBCD, b-HBCD, g-HBCD, Total HBCD, BTBPE, DBDPE, HBBz, EHTBB, EHTEBP

    Exercise

    DE13

  2. Analyte group

    Dissolved Organic Carbon

    Typical analytes

    DOC

    Exercise

    AQ14

  3. Analyte group

    Metals

    Typical analytes

    Arsenic, Boron, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Silver, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Vanadium, Uranium, Zinc

    Exercise

    AQ3, AQ4

  4. Analyte group

    Microplastics

    Typical analytes

    Total number of particles, Total mass of particles

    Exercise

    DE17

  5. Analyte group

    Nutrients

    Typical analytes

    Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Silicate, TOTAL-N, TOTAL-P, TOxN

    Exercise

    AQ1. AQ2

  6. Analyte group

    Ocean acidification

    Typical analytes

    Dissolved Inorganic Carbon, Total Alkalinity, pH

    Exercise

    AQ15

  7. Analyte group

    OPs&Herb

    Typical analytes

    Aclonifen, Alachlor, Atrazine, Atrazine-desethyl, Azinphos-ethyl, Azinphos-methyl, Bifenox, Bifenthrin, Chlorfenvinphos, Chlorpyrifos, Chlotianidin, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Demeton, Diazinon, Dichlorvos, Dicofol, Dimethoate, Diuron, Esfenvalerate, Fenchlorophos, Fenitrothion, Fenthion, Glyphosate, Imidacloprid, Irgarol-1051, Isoproturon, Malathion, Nicosulfuron, Omethoate, Parathion-ethyl, Parathion-methyl, Permethrin, Quinoxyfen, Simazine, Terbutryn, Terbuthylazine, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Triazophos, Triclosan

    Exercise

    AQ7

  8. Analyte group

    Organometals

    Typical analytes

    Dibutyltin(DBT), Diphenyltin(DPhT), Monobutyltin(MBT), Monophenyltin(MPhT), Tributyltin(TBT), Triphenyltin(TPhT)

    Exercise

    AQ12

  9. Analyte group

    PCBs&OCP

    Typical analytes

    a-HCH, b-HCH, g-HCH, d-HCH, HCB, HCBD, Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Isodrin, pp'-DDD, pp'-DDE, op'-DDT, pp'-DDT, Endosulphan-I, Endosulphan-II, Pentachlorobenzene, 1-2-3-TCB, 1-2-4-TCB, 1-3-5-TCB, Trifluralin, PCB28, PCB31, PCB52, PCB101, PCB105, PCB118, PCB138, PCB138+PCB163, PCB153, PCB156, PCB180, Heptachlor, Heptachlorepoxide, Pentachlorophenol

    Exercise

    AQ7, DE13

  10. Analyte group

    Perfluorinated alkyl substances

    Typical analytes

    PFOS, PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoA, PFTrDA, PFTeDA, L-PFBS, L-PFHxS, L-PFHpS, PFOSA, PFDS, PFODA, GenX, F-53B, PFBSA, PFHxSA, NMeFOSAA and NEtFOSAA

    Exercise

    DE18

  11. Analyte group

    Pigments

    Typical analytes

    Chlorophyll-a, Chlorophyll-b, Chlorophyll-c, Pheopigments, Chlorophyll-a (Corr), Chlorophyll-a (HPLC), Chlorophyll-b (HPLC), Chlorophyll-c (HPLC)

    Exercise

    AQ11

  12. Analyte group

    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

    Typical analytes

    Acenaphthene, Acenaphthylene, Anthracene, Benzo[a]anthracene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Benzo[e]pyrene, Benzo[k]fluoranthene, Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Chrysene, Dibenzo[ah]anthracene, Fluorene, Fluoranthene, Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, Pyrene, Total petroleum hydrocarbons

    Exercise

    AQ13, DE13

  13. Analyte group

    Salinity

    Typical analytes

    Salinity, Salinity indicative

    Exercise

    AQ1, AQ2

  14. Analyte group

    VOCs

    Typical analytes

    Benzene, Carbon-tetrachloride, Chlorobenzene, Chloroform, 2-chlorotoluene, 4-chlorotoluene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1-2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, trans-1,2-dichloroethene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene, Isopropylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, Styrene, tert-bytylbenzene, 1,1,1,2-tetrachlorethane, Tetrachloroethene, Trichlorethene, 1-1-1-trichloroethane, 1-1-2-trichloroethane, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, Toluene, m+p-Xylene, o-Xylene

    Exercise

    AQ6

Reference materials

Samples of previous proficiency tests are sold as reference materials. Available materials can be selected and ordered in our webshop. In our webshop it is also possible to request a quotation. Participants of our proficiency tests are entitled to a discount.