Abstract
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) are Certified Reference Materials issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Three of these materials, SRMs 1975 (Diesel Particulate Extract), 2975 (Diesel Particulate Matter, Industrial Forklift), and 1650 (Diesel Particulate Matter) are diesel particulate-related materials that are well characterized for PAH isomer distributions. SRM 1975 is a methylene chloride extract of industrial forklift diesel particulate matter and it was developed originally in response to the needs of the bioassay community for a natural environmental extract. Thirty-nine PAHs (or combinations of PAHs) were determined in SRM 1975 using various combinations of four different methods of analysis. SRM 1975 will be issued with certified concentrations for eight PAHs. In addition, reference concentrations will be provided for additional PAHs, including many alkyl substituted isomers such as methylphenanthrenes, methylpyrenes, and methylfluoranthenes. Reference values for the mutagenic activity of the extract will also be provided. The approach and results for the certification of PAH concentrations in SRM 1975 are described in this paper.