IMPROVEMENTS IN METHYLMERCURY DETERMINATION PRIOR TO THE CERTIFICATION OF 2 TUNA FISH MATERIALS

An account is given of a systematic, collaborative investigation to detect problems and sources of error in the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) in biological samples. The work was done by a group of analytical laboratories under the auspices of the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) of the Commission of the European Communities (EC). The paper presents the organization of three intercomparisons on organic mercury in solution and solid matrices, and the results obtained by the participants. The different analytical steps of the methods used (extraction, clean-up, separation, final detection) are compared and assessed.