DIN 38407-39:2011-09

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can be found as by-products of natural and industrial combustion processes in nearly all waters, both undissolved, adsorbed on solids (sediments, suspended matter) as well as diluted in water. Individual compounds from the PAH group are deemed to be carcinogenic or suspected to cause cancer. According to Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption, the maximum acceptable concentration of benzo(a)pyrene is 0,01 µg/l and for the sum of the four explicitly stated PAH benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi)perylene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene is stated as 0,1 µg/l. DIN EN ISO 17993 gives a method for the determination of 15 PAH with HPLC-FLD for drinking and surface water. Comparisons of procedures revealed that the GC-MS method in accordance with this standard can provide comparable results and offers advantages in particular with regard to complex samples. The method specifies the determination of selected PAH in matrixes similar to drinking water of mass concentrations of more than 0,005 µg/l (for every single compound), and for waste water and surface water of more than 0,01 µg/l. For higher contents of suspended matter, such as in certain surface waters and waste waters, this method may not provide quantitative recoveries of PAH. The method can be applied to other PAHs provided it has been validated for every application. It is also suitable for examination of eluates/aqueous extracts from solid matrices. The standard has been prepared by Working Group NA 119-01-03-02-18 AK "PAK mit GC/MS" ("PAH with GC/MS") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water Analysis") at NAW; the work has been funded by the Länderfinanzierungsprogramm "Wasser, Boden und Abfall" (federal funding programme "Water, soil and waste").