An analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons in the marine environment: Results of an interlaboratory comparison exercise

Abstract

An interlaboratory comparison exercise, carried out by Exxon Research and Engineering and the National Bureau of Standards, is described. Marine water samples obtained on a joint cruise using both laboratories’ water samplers were split and analyzed at both laboratories. Both samplers were found to be acceptable for the determination of hydrocarbons at μg/kg (ppb) levels. Differences in analyses were traceable to the analytical schemes employed by each laboratory.

Key words:

• Intercalibration
• water pollution
• environmental sampling
• petroleum hydrocarbons