Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are control standards used to check the quality and metrological traceability of the analytical data and to validate new analytical methods. In fact, the quality of data is a major issue in analytical chemistry, necessary to achieve reliable and comparable information. This is certainly also applicable to the chemical measurements carried out in Antarctica, especially for the assessment of the chemical contamination.

Since the suitability of CRMs depends on the degree of similarity of their matrix composition and analyte concentrations to those expected for real samples, there is a clear need for specific CRMs based on Antarctic matrices. In the context of the Italian National Programme for Research in Antarctica (PNRA) and under the coordination of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome (Italy) and of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre in Geel (Belgium), three Antarctic CRMs were produced with certified values for trace elements.

Since 2008, these CRMS are stored and managed by BCAA and they are available to the scientific community on request.

Antarctic marine sediment (MURST-ISS-A1)

Sampling site: Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea)
Sampling period: 1993-1994
Container type: glass
Quantity: 263
Weight: 75 g
Storage temperature: -25 °C
Certified elements: Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn

Antarctic Krill (MURST-ISS-A2)

Sampling site: Ross Sea
Sampling period: 1993-1995
Container type: glass
Quantity: 6070
Weight: 0,5 g
Storage temperature: -25 °C
Certified elements: As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn

Adamussium colbecki (MURST-ISS-A3)

Sampling site: Ross Sea
Sampling period: 2001
Container type: glass
Quantity: 339
Weight: 3 g
Storage temperature: -25 °C
Certified elements: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn

For more information and CRM requests, visit the BCAA database.