A bulk sediment sample was collected from the Venice Lagoon, Italy. This sediment was deep-frozen, dried, ground and sieved through a 250 μm stainless steel sieve. The sediment fraction of particle size less than 250 μm was homogenized by mixing it in a rotating drum for two weeks. Then, aliquots of about 40 g were packaged into glass bottles with aluminium screw caps and sealed with Teflon tape.
Recommended values (based on dry mass)
Pesticides and PCBs
* Average values calculated after rejection of outliers expressed on a dry mass basisPetroleum Hydrocarbons
| Analyte | Unit | Recommended value* | 95% Confidence interval |
| n - C17 | ng/g | 200 | 120 - 280 |
| Phenanthrene | ng/g | 3900 | 3400 - 4400 |
| 1 Methyl Phenanthrene | ng/g | 320 | 230 - 420 |
| Anthracene | ng/g | 630 | 520 - 740 |
| Chrysene | ng/g | 3600 | 3100 - 4100 |
| Fluorene | ng/g | 230 | 160 - 300 |
| Fluoranthene | ng/g | 7700 | 6800 - 8600 |
| Pyrene | ng/g | 6000 | 5300 - 6700 |
| Benzo [b] Fluoranthene | ng/g | 4100 | 3100 - 5100 |
| Benzo [k] Fluoranthene | ng/g | 2000 | 1800 - 2200 |
| Benz [a] Anthracene | ng/g | 3200 | 2800 - 3600 |
| Perylene | ng/g | 1200 | 470 - 1900 |
| Benzo [e] Pyrene | ng/g | 3000 | 2500 - 3500 |
| Benzo [a] Pyrene | ng/g | 2800 | 2400 - 3200 |
| Benzo [g,h,i] Perylene | ng/g | 2300 | 1900 - 2700 |
| Indeno [1,2,3-c,d] Pyrene | ng/g | 2700 | 2500 - 2900 |
| Acenaphthene | ng/g | 180 | 130 - 230 |
| Dibenzothiophene | ng/g | 280 | 260 - 310 |
* Average values calculated after rejection of outliers expressed on a dry mass basis
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 | Information value* | 95% Confidence interval |
| HCB | ng/g | 1.2 | 0.9 - 1.5 |
| pp' DDT | ng/g | 19.0 | 15.8 - 22.2 |
| op DDD | ng/g | 11.0 | 4.8 - 17.2 |
| Heptachlor | ng/g | 2.0 | 1.1 - 2.9 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | ng/g | 4.8 | 1.9 - 7.7 |
| Aldrin | ng/g | 1.6 | 1.0 - 2.2 |
| Dieldrin | ng/g | 2.3 | 1.2 - 3.4 |
| Endrin | ng/g | 7.1 | 4.3 - 9.9 |
| α Endosulfan | ng/g | 14.0 | 3.5 - 24.5 |
| β Endosulfan | ng/g | 5.1 | 2.3 - 7.9 |
| α Chlordane | ng/g | 1.8 | 0.7 - 2.9 |
| γ Chlordane | ng/g | 1.2 | 0.7 - 1.8 |
| Aroclor 1254 | ng/g | 410 | 310 - 520 |
| Aroclor 1260 | ng/g | 170 | 110 - 230 |
* Average values calculated after rejection of outliers expressed on a dry mass basis
PCB Congeners
| Analyte | Unit | Information value* | 95% Confidence interval |
| PCB No 8 | ng/g | 1.8 | 0.3 - 3.3 |
| PCB No 18 | ng/g | 3.7 | 2.0 - 5.4 |
| PCB No 22 | ng/g | 1.0 | 0.1 - 1.9 |
| PCB No 45 | ng/g | 0.46 | 0.32 - 0.60 |
| PCB No 66 | ng/g | 23.0 | 9.6 - 36.4 |
| PCB No 70 | ng/g | 20.0 | 10.8 - 29.2 |
| PCB No 95 | ng/g | 20.0 | 17.6 - 22.4 |
| PCB No 97 | ng/g | 9.1 | 5.9 - 12.3 |
| PCB No 118 | ng/g | 43.0 | 37.4 - 48.6 |
| PCB No 151 | ng/g | 3.9 | 3.5 - 4.4 |
| PCB No 153 | ng/g | 39.0 | 33.2 - 44.8 |
| PCB No 158 | ng/g | 6.0 | 1.5 - 10.5 |
| PCB No 180 | ng/g | 16.0 | 13.8 - 18.2 |
| PCB No 199 | ng/g | 1.2 | 0.2 - 2.2 |
* Average values calculated after rejection of outliers expressed on a dry mass basis
Petroleum Hydrocarbons
| Analyte | Unit | Information value* | 95% Confidence interval |
| Total Aliphatics | ng/g | 23000 | 115000 – 345000 |
| Resolved Aliphatics | ng/g | 14000 | 10000 – 18000 |
| Unresolved Aliphatics | ng/g | 23000 | 123000 – 337000 |
| Pristane | ng/g | 420 | 56 - 780 |
| n - C18 | ng/g | 230 | 120 - 350 |
| Phytane | ng/g | 370 | 190 - 550 |
| Σ n-Alkanes [C14 - C34] | ng/g | 9500 | 5700 - 13000 |
| Resolved Aromatics | ng/g | 48000 | 32000 - 64000 |
| Biphenyl | ng/g | 42.0 | 32.1 - 51.9 |
| Naphthalene | ng/g | 150 | 100 - 200 |
| 1 Methyl Naphthalene | ng/g | 53 | 31 - 75 |
| 2 Methyl Naphthalene | ng/g | 81 | 11 - 150 |
| 2 Methyl Phenanthrene | ng/g | 580 | 210 - 950 |
| Dibenz [a,h] Anthracene | ng/g | 1100 | 510 - 1700 |
* Average values calculated after rejection of outliers expressed on a dry mass basis
The values listed above were established on the basis of statistically valid results submitted by laboratories which had participated in one or more international interlaboratory comparisons organized by the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratory, Monaco. The details concerning the criteria for qualification as a recommended or information value may be found in the respective report (attached).
