The common brown seaweed, Fucus sp., (IAEA-140/OC) was obtained from the coast of Normandy, France, through a local supplier. The Fucus sample was freeze-dried and then micronized to give a particle size of less than 40 μm. The powder was further homogenized by mixing in a stainless steel rotating drum for 2 weeks. After checking for the homogeneity of the sample material, aliquots of about 35 g were packed into glass bottles with Teflon lined screw caps and sealed with Teflon tape.
Recommended values (based on dry mass)
Pesticides and PCBs
| Analyte | Unit | Value | 95% Confidence Interval | N |
| β HCH | ng/g | 4.6 | 2.4 - 9.5 | 8 |
| pp’ DDE | ng/g | 1.2 | 0.86 – 1.6 | 31 |
| pp’ DDD | ng/g | 0.72 | 0.61 – 0.90 | 24 |
| pp’ DDT | ng/g | 2.2 | 1.4 – 3.6 | 29 |
| Dieldrin | ng/g | 1.7 | 0.72 – 2.8 | 23 |
| PCB No 28 | ng/g | 1.7 | 1.3 - 2.5 | 17 |
| PCB No 31 | ng/g | 1.8 | 1.7 - 2.1 | 5 |
| PCB No 49 | ng/g | 1.6 | 1.1 - 1.9 | 6 |
| PCB No 52 | ng/g | 3.8 | 2.6 - 4.9 | 24 |
| PCB No 101 | ng/g | 2.4 | 1.9 - 3.2 | 24 |
| PCB No 105 | ng/g | 0.49 | 0.4 - 0.7 | 13 |
| PCB No 118 | ng/g | 1.0 | 0.97 - 1.10 | 10 |
| PCB No 138 | ng/g | 1.7 | 1.2 - 2.6 | 24 |
| PCB No 149 | ng/g | 1.2 | 1.1 - 1.6 | 6 |
| PCB No 153 | ng/g | 1.7 | 1.3 - 3.1 | 27 |
| PCB No 156 | ng/g | 0.17 | 0.08 - 0.36 | 7 |
| PCB No 180 | ng/g | 0.43 | 0.38 - 0.52 | 17 |
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
| Analyte | Unit | Value | 95% Confidence Interval | N |
| Total Aliphatics | ng/g | 27000 | 25000 – 42000 | 9 |
| n-C17 | ng/g | 890 | 25000 – 42000 | 19 |
| Pristane | ng/g | 50 | 15 – 69 | 10 |
| n-C18 | ng/g | 99 | 45 – 140 | 15 |
| Phytane | ng/g | 56 | 25 – 100 | 13 |
| ∑ n Alkanes (C14 – C34) | ng/g | 11000 | 5600 - 2100 | 18 |
| Phenanthrene | ng/g | 76 | 40 – 110 | 28 |
| 2 Methyl Phenanthrene | ng/g | 19 | 15 – 40 | 10 |
| 1 Methyl Phenanthrene | ng/g | 11 | 9 - 14 | 11 |
| Anthracene | ng/g | 14 | 4 – 93 | 11 |
| Chrysene | ng/g | 40 | 25 – 49 | 27 |
| Fluoranthene | ng/g | 88 | 57 – 110 | 23 |
| Pyrene | ng/g | 67 | 46 – 79 | 24 |
| Benzo (k) Fluoranthene | ng/g | 19 | 15 – 27 | 8 |
| Benz (a) Anthracene | ng/g | 25 | 14 – 32 | 23 |
| Benzo (e) Pyrene | ng/g | 26 | 19 – 33 | 10 |
| Benzo (a) Pyrene | ng/g | 20 | 16 – 22 | 15 |
| Naphthalene | ng/g | 17 | 9 – 43 | 14 |
| Benzo (ghi) Perylene | ng/g | 20 | 17 – 35 | 15 |
| Indeno (123cd) Pyrene | ng/g | 33 | 20 – 53 | 10 |
(Value) Concentration calculated as a median of the accepted laboratory means
(N) Number of accepted laboratory means which are used to calculate the recommended or information values and their respective confidence intervals
Information values (based on dry mass)
Please note that information values are not to be used for any assessment of analytical performance or similar; they are included to provide information about the expected mass fractions/concentration levels
Chlorinated Pesticides
| Analyte | Unit | Value | 95% Confidence Interval | N |
| HCB | ng/g | 1.3 | 0.35 – 3.3 | 30 |
| α HCH | ng/g | 1.4 | 1.3 – 1.5 | 9 |
| ɣ HCH (Lindane) | ng/g | 11 | 5.4 – 16 | 52 |
| Heptachlor | ng/g | 3 | 0.99 – 4.4 | 12 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | ng/g | 0.79 | 0.32 – 1.4 | 8 |
| Aldrin | ng/g | 0.76 | 0.50 – 4.5 | 15 |
| Endrin | ng/g | 0.71 | 0.43 – 1.6 | 9 |
| α Endosulfan | ng/g | 0.9 | 0.58 – 4.4 | 14 |
| α Chlordane | ng/g | 1.4 | 0.36 – 2.8 | 8 |
| Aroclor 1254 | ng/g | 25 | 12 – 41 | 23 |
| Aroclor 1260 | ng/g | 12 | 1.9 – 13 | 14 |
PCB Congeners
| Analyte | Unit | Value | 95% Confidence Interval | N |
| PCB No 18 | ng/g | 1.5 | 1.2 – 1.9 | 4 |
| PCB No 44 | ng/g | 2 | 1.9 – 2.1 | 4 |
| PCB No 66 | ng/g | 0.89 | 0.65 – 1.1 | 4 |
| PCB No 70 | ng/g | 1.8 | 1.1 – 4.0 | 4 |
| PCB No 77 | ng/g | 0.19 | 0.04 – 6.9 | 4 |
| PCB No 87 | ng/g | 1.6 | 1.2 – 2.0 | 4 |
| PCB No 99 | ng/g | 0.9 | 0.75 – 1.4 | 4 |
| PCB No 170 | ng/g | 0.21 | 0.16 – 0.76 | 7 |
| PCB No 187 | ng/g | 0.38 | 0.3 – 1.2 | 4 |
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
| Analyte | Unit | Value | 95% Confidence Interval | N |
| UVF equivalent Chrysene | ng/g | 3500 | 1200 – 5400 | 8 |
| UVF equivalent ROPME oil | ng/g | 29000 | 11000 – 39000 | 8 |
| Resolved Aliphatics | ng/g | 13000 | 6400 – 24000 | 16 |
| Unresolved Aliphatics | ng/g | 26000 | 12000 - 48000 | 8 |
| Total Aromatics | ng/g | 5800 | 750 - 16000 | 8 |
| Resolved Aromatics | ng/g | 350 | 150 - 500 | 8 |
| Unresolved Aromatics | ng/g | 8100 | 3900 – 17000 | 4 |
| Fluorene | ng/g | 6.5 | 4.6 - 1600 | 7 |
| Benzo (b) Fluoranthene | ng/g | 37 | 33 - 37 | 6 |
| Perylene | ng/g | 5 | 2.7 – 9.8 | 4 |
| 1 Methyl Naphthalene | ng/g | 13 | 6.5 – 15 | 4 |
| 2 Methyl Naphthalene | ng/g | 16 | 9 – 23 | 4 |
| Dibenz (ah) Anthracene | ng/g | 4.5 | 2.6 – 160 | 6 |
| Acenaphthene | ng/g | 3.4 | 3.3 – 7.0 | 3 |
(Value) Concentration calculated as a median of the accepted laboratory means
(N) Number of accepted laboratory means which are used to calculate the recommended or information values and their respective confidence intervals
The values listed above were established on the basis of statistically valid results submitted by laboratories which had participated in an international interlaboratory comparison organized by IAEA Marine Environment Laboratory, Monaco. The details concerning the criteria for qualification as a recommended or information value can be found in the respective report (attached).
