Reference methods for detecting heavy metal residues and arsenic
On 26 September 1990 the Commission of the European Communities adopted a Decision on reference methods for detecting residues of heavy metals and arsenic. The Decision stipulates that the analytical reference procedures to be applied for confirmation of the presence of residues shall be: - For arsenic: atomic absorption spectometry (AAS) and colorimetry; - For cadmium and lead: AAS and anodic stripping voltammetry by derivate pulse polarography (DPASV); - For mercury: cold vapour phase AAS. The chosen analytical reference procedure must be based preferably on AAS and must have a limit of detection which is equal to or lower than that of the procedure used for routine analyses. Certified reference materials suitable for the verification of methods for heavy metals and arsenic in muscle, liver and kidney are available from the Community Bureau of Reference in Brussels.