ISO 7981-1:2005 specifies the determination of six selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in drinking water. The 6 PAH are: fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[ghi]perylene

The screening method (method A) described excludes those samples containing less than 20 % of the referenced limit values.

The quantitative method (method B) described has a working range of 40 ng/l to 240 ng/l (sum of 6 PAH). Higher concentrations may be determined by using a smaller aliquot of the sample.

With some modifications, this method is also applicable for the analysis of ground waters and moderately polluted surface waters.