Determining the bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene through standardized desorption extraction in a certified reference contaminated soil

There is a strong need for certified reference materials in the quality assurance of nonionic soil contaminant bioavailability estimations through physicochemical methods. We applied desorption extraction, method recently standardized as ISO16751, to determine bioavailable concentration most commonly regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), benzo( )pyrene (BaP), industrial BCR-524 with BaP total 8.60 mg kg ?1 . This represented levels found many PAH-polluted soils. The method, based on single-point extraction analyte desorbed into aqueous phase by receiving (Tenax or cyclodextrin), was ten times. data fulfilled highly demanding criteria recovery and repeatability. detected Tenax 1.82 , comparable concentrations determined field-contaminated soils environmental standards previously observed concentrations. good agreement (Student's t -test, P ? 0.05) cyclodextrin (1.53 ). methods were extended four other 4- 5-ringed PAHs comparative purposes. suggest ways improving ISO16751 standard related further systematic assessment Tenax-to-soil ratio incorporation mass balances. Furthermore, suitable quality-assurance protocols these when used site-specific risk assessments environments. • are no determinations soil. Standardized BCR-524. provide equal )pyrene. Possible improvement provided. new analytical scenario has implications regulation.