As part of its task to identify projects of interest to
the chemical industry, COCI has decided to tackle the reliability problem
in chemical measurement.
The wide variation in chemical trace measurements was
first brought to COCI attention by Prof.
DeBi�vre at the Committee meeting in 1998. During the 1999 meeting
in Berlin, Prof. DeBi�vre presented data demonstrating a huge (+-50%)
variation in trace element (Pb, Cd, Fe, and Zn) concentrations in water
from even "accredited" laboratories. Similar problems were demonstrated
for analysis of catalyst (Pt) metals in car exhaust material.
Although a brief summary of the concerns "Metrology in
Chemistry", had been published in C&EN (May 31, 1999, p.29),
COCI encouraged Prof. DeBi�vre to submit a summary to Chemistry International.
The article provides "snapshot" pictures of chemical measurement (un)reliability,
with many practical, societal implications. This is also part of COCI'
s response to an IUPAC request for submission of articles of a topical/global
nature.
> Read 'Quality
of chemical measurements in water - International evaluation programme
reveals true situation', authored by C. Nicholl, P.D.P. Taylor,
I. Papadakis, and P. De Bi�vre, Chem. Int. 23(1), pp. 1-7, 2001
