BS EN ISO 18475:2025 - Environmental Solid Matrices

Introducing the BS EN ISO 18475:2025, a comprehensive standard that provides a detailed methodology for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in environmental solid matrices. This standard is essential for laboratories and professionals involved in environmental analysis, ensuring accurate and reliable results through advanced techniques.

Overview

The BS EN ISO 18475:2025 standard is a critical document for those working in environmental science and analytical chemistry. It outlines the procedures for detecting and quantifying PCBs, which are hazardous environmental pollutants, using gas chromatography. The standard provides two detection methods: Mass Selective Detection (GC-MS) and Electron-Capture Detection (GC-ECD), both of which are renowned for their sensitivity and precision.

Key Features

• Standard Number: BS EN ISO 18475:2025
• Pages: 52
• Release Date: November 7, 2025
• ISBN: 978 0 539 34993 1
• Status: Standard

Why Choose BS EN ISO 18475:2025?

This standard is indispensable for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and for conducting thorough environmental assessments. By following the guidelines set out in BS EN ISO 18475:2025, laboratories can achieve high levels of accuracy in detecting PCBs, which are critical for assessing environmental contamination and protecting public health.

Advanced Detection Methods

The standard provides detailed instructions on using two advanced detection methods:

• Gas Chromatography-Mass Selective Detection (GC-MS): This method combines the separation capabilities of gas chromatography with the detection power of mass spectrometry, allowing for precise identification and quantification of PCBs.
• Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detection (GC-ECD): Known for its high sensitivity to halogenated compounds, GC-ECD is an effective method for detecting low levels of PCBs in complex environmental matrices.

Comprehensive Guidance

With 52 pages of detailed instructions, the BS EN ISO 18475:2025 standard provides comprehensive guidance on sample preparation, instrument calibration, and data interpretation. This ensures that users can confidently apply the methods to achieve reliable results.

Applications

The BS EN ISO 18475:2025 standard is applicable in various fields, including:

• Environmental Monitoring: Essential for assessing the presence of PCBs in soil, sediment, and other solid matrices.
• Regulatory Compliance: Helps laboratories meet national and international environmental standards and regulations.
• Research and Development: Supports scientific research aimed at understanding the distribution and impact of PCBs in the environment.

Benefits of Using This Standard

By implementing the BS EN ISO 18475:2025 standard, laboratories and environmental professionals can benefit from:

• Enhanced Accuracy: Achieve precise and reliable results with advanced detection methods.
• Regulatory Assurance: Ensure compliance with environmental laws and standards.
• Improved Environmental Protection: Contribute to the protection of ecosystems and public health by accurately identifying PCB contamination.

Conclusion

The BS EN ISO 18475:2025 standard is an essential tool for any laboratory or professional involved in environmental analysis. Its detailed methodology and advanced detection techniques provide the accuracy and reliability needed to effectively monitor and assess PCB contamination in environmental solid matrices. By adhering to this standard, you can ensure that your analyses meet the highest standards of quality and compliance.

BS EN ISO 18475:2025

This standard BS EN ISO 18475:2025 Environmental solid matrices. Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by gas chromatography. Mass selective detection (GC-MS) or electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.080.10 Chemical characteristics of soils

This document specifies methods for quantitative determination of seven selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB118, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180) in soil, sludge, sediment, treated biowaste, and waste using GC-MS and GC-ECD (see Table 2). The limit of detection depends on the determinants, the equipment used, the quality of chemicals used for the extraction of the sample and the clean-up of the extract. Under the conditions specified in this document, lower limit of application from 1 ?g/kg (expressed as dry matter) for soils, sludge and biowaste to 10 ?g/kg (expressed as dry matter) for solid waste can be achieved. For some specific samples the limit of 10 ?g/kg cannot be reached. Sludge, waste and treated biowaste may differ in properties, as well as in the expected contamination levels of PCB and presence of interfering substances. These differences make it impossible to describe one general procedure. This document contains decision tables based on the properties of the sample and the extraction and clean-up procedure to be used. NOTE            The analysis of PCB in insulating liquids, petroleum products, used oils and aqueous samples is referred to in EN 61619, EN 12766-1 and ISO 6468 respectively. The method can be applied to the analysis of other PCB congeners not specified in the scope, provided suitability is proven by proper in-house validation experiments.