HELCOM-MORS Proficiency Test Determination of Radionuclides in Fish Flesh Sample

The accurate and precise determination of radionuclide concentrations in marine samples is critical to reliable marine radioactivity assessment and the use of radionuclides in studies of oceanographic processes. To address the problem of data quality, the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories (IAEA-MEL) in Monaco regularly conduct interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency tests (PT) on radionuclides in marine samples as part of their contribution to the IAEA's programme of Analytical Quality support. These exercises are open to world-wide participation or can be custom-tailored to the needs of specific collaborative projects. In the latter category, IAEA-MEL has a long-standing collaboration with the Helsinki Commission's Project for Monitoring Radioactive Substances in the Baltic Sea (HELCOM-MORS). During the HELCOM-MORS annual meeting hosted by IAEA-MEL in 2006, the organisation of a PT using a previously characterised fish sample and the collaboration in the production of a Certified Reference Material of bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) were discussed and agreed upon as first priorities for the Project group. The organisation and the results of this PT are described in the present report