This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of selected polybrominated diphenyl
ethers (PBDE) (see Figure 1 and Table 1) in sediment and sludge using gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) or negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) mode.
When using GC-EI-MS, the method is applicable to samples containing 0,05 μg/kg to 25 μg/kg of tetra- to
octabromo congeners and 0,3 μg/kg to 100 μg/kg of decabromo diphenyl ether (BDE-209), respectively.
Approximately ten times lower concentrations can be quantified when using GC-NCI-MS. The risk of
misinterpretation of interfering substances is smaller with EI due to its higher specificity. It is also possible to
analyse other brominated diphenyl ethers according to this International Standard, after verifying its
applicability in each case.
This International Standard specifies a method for the determination of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (see Figure 1 and Table 1) in sediment and sludge using gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry (GC-MS) in the electron impact (EI) or negative ion chemical ionization (NCI) mode.