FEBS-1: Otolith certified reference material for trace metals

FEBS-1 is a saggital otolith reference material procured from red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). Certified values are based on unweighted mean results from data submitted by collaborating laboratories. The expanded uncertainty (U_CRM) in the certified value is equal to U = ku_c, where uc is the combined standard uncertainty calculated according to the JCGM Guide and k is the coverage factor. The value of u_c is determined from the combined uncertainties of the vairous analytical methods (u_char) as well as uncertainties associated with homogeneity (u_hom).

It is intended that U_CRM encompasses every aspect that reasonably contributes to the uncertainty of the measurement. A coverage factor k = 2 was applied for all elements. The table below lists those elements for which certified values have been established.

Table 1: Certified quantity values

Element	Mass fraction	Unit
Barium (d,i,p)	5.09 ± 0.23	mg/kg
Lithium (d,p)	0.305 ± 0.044	mg/kg
Magnesium (d,i,p)	23.6 ± 1.3	mg/kg
Manganese(d,n)	0.686 ± 0.016	mg/kg
Sodium (d,i,n)	2594 ± 161	mg/kg
Strontium (d,i,p)	2055 ± 79	mg/kg
Calcium (d,i,n,x)	38.3 ± 1.4	g/100g

Coding

The coding refers only to the instrumental method of analyte determination.

• d - Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• i - Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
• n - Neutron activation (INAA)
• p - Isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICPMS)
• x - X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF).

Intended use

This reference material is primarily intended for use in the calibration of procedures and the development of methods used for the analysis of bulk elemental composition of otoliths and other marine aragonites.

Table 2: Uncertainty components

Incertainty	u (wBa), mg/kg	u (wCa), g/100g	u (wLi), mg/kg	u (wMg), mg/kg	u (wMn), mg/kg	u (wNa), mg/kg	u (wSr), mg/kg
uchar	0.039	0.62	0.0211	0.395	0.006	72.9	21
uhom	0.108	0.35	0.0055	0.535	0.0055	23.5	34
uc	0.115	0.717	0.022	0.665	0.0081	80.3	40
U (k=2)	0.23	1.4	0.044	1.33	0.016	161	79

Table 3: Information values

Element	Interval	Technique
Cd	1.4 - 3.2 μg/kg	IDICPMS, ICPMS
Cu	4.2 - 6.8 mg/kg	IDICPMS, ICPMS
Ni	16 - 29 μg/kg	IDICPMS
Pb	0.40 - 0.77 mg/kg	IDICPMS, ICPMS
Zn	3.2 - 6.3 mg/kg	IDICPMS, INAA

Date of issue: August 2005
Date of expiry: April 2015
Revised: January 2015 (expiry date extended, layout and editorial changes), March 2016 (editorial update)

Date modified:

2016-12-13