Second interlaboratory exercise on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug analysis in environmental aqueous samples

Several interlaboratory exercises were organised within the framework of European FP6 project NOR-MAN Among others. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were investigated in different aqueous samples in two sequential ring studies. The aim of both studies was to evaluate the state-of-art in Europe and to determine possible sources of variation. while also attempting to diminish them In the present paper we discuss the results of the 2nd Interlaboratory study, while the results of 1st round were presented before The main scope of the 1st exercise organised within NORMAN project was to assess the laboratory proficiency regardless of the analytical method applied, to evaluate the stability of the target compounds during sample storage, and to define possible sources of variation during sample shipment, storage and analysis. In the 2nd round we primarily aimed to diminish these sources of variation by applying two predetermined analytical protocols based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The two analytical protocols were compared in terms of their ability to determine individual analytes in matrices of different complexity, i.e. tap water, river water and wastewater. Furthermore, the 2nd exercise addressed also the filtration and compared the influence of different filter material categories on the analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.