• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2013

To establishment of PT Program for Indoor air quality field that manufacture of confidential development PTMs (proficiency testing materials) and examined of proficiency testing evaluation included sampling process whether or not that is valid. Confirmation of homogeneity and stability of PTMs prepared. PTMs were confirmed to be homogeneous enough to be used as proficiency testing materials since withinbottle homogeneities of the RMs were lower than 0.3 times of targeted standard deviation of proficiency testing. The result of this study showed that the Robust RSD of proficiency testing for VOCs (volatile organic compounds) appeared 23~43% in concentration of 50~320 ${\mu}g/m^3$ for Method A(Distribution by adsorption in Tenax-tube of VOCs), but less 13~42% in concentration of 200~1200 ${\mu}g/m^3$, 16~31% in concentration of 100~450 ${\mu}g/m^3$ for Method B (distribution by VOCs of gas phase in 10L Tedalr bag), C (directly sampling of cylinder with high pressure) respectively. The result of this study showed that method C with sampling is most adequate to the proficiency testing for VOCs in indoor air.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2010

This study was carried out to produce Reference Materials (RMs) for Proficiency Testing (PT) of PCBs in waste analytical laboratories. Two RMs were prepared from used transformer oil samples and PCB free transformer oil by spiking PCBs standard solutions. The spiked PCB RMs were homogenized by mixing and settling up to 90 days. Homogenized concentration of PCBs with Arochlor 1254 (6 ppm), 1254:1260 (1:1) (5 ppm) were observed in 60 days stationary phase but Arochlor 1260 (3.5 mg/L) were observed in 90 days stationary phase. One-way ANOVA test were carried out and showed that the RMs were suitably homogenized, which can be used for proficiency testing. The Relative Standard Deviations (RSDs) of analytical results were 3.51~5.01% for the PCBs RMs in 10 replicates. The expanded uncertainty of PCBs analytical procedure were 0.26~0.49.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.313-321
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• 1996

Our laboratoy has been participated in Proficiency Analytical Testing (PAT) program which is operated by the Americal Industrial Hygiene Association in cooperation with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The program is designed to assist a laboratory improve its analytical performance by providing samples on a quarterly basis, evaluating the results, and providing reports on how well the laboratory performed. Evaluation of the results reported here covers five rounds of the PAT program (round 121~round 125). The way a laboratory is evaluated by PAT program is as follows: 1) There is no overall proficiency rating given to a laboratory. 2) A proficiency rating is given for each type of analyze (i.e., metals, silica, asbestos, solvents) that a laboratory analyzed. 3) Proficiency is rated acceptable ("A") if Z score lies between -3 and +3, and unacceptable if Z score is either higher than +3 ("H") or lower than -3 ("Lo"). Z score = (reported data - reference value) / standard deviation 4) For a laboratory to be rated proficient it must either have had no outliers over the most recent two rounds or of the samples actually analyzed over the past year (past four rounds), 75 % or more of the analyze sample results must be acceptable. According to the above rating criteria of PAT program, performance of metals including cadmium, lead, chromium and zinc, and asbestos sample analyses were rated acceptable ("A"). For silica analyses, all samples except one out of four samples in round 122 was rated high("H") were acceptable showing 95 % of ing 95 % of acceptance rate (19/20) throughout the rounds. Analyses of organic solvents were done on 52 samples in 9 types including methanol(MOH), 1,1,1-trichloroethane(MCM), tetrachloroethylene(PCE), trichloroethylene(TCE), benzene(BNZ), o-xylene(OXY), toluene(TOL), chloroform(CFM), 1,2-dichloroethane(DCE). All samples analyzed were rated acceptable except 2 samples that were rated high; one out of each four MCM and TCE samples in round 121, and one that was low out of four o-xylene analyses in round 122 indicating 94 % of acceptance rate(49/52) throughout the rounds. According to the laboratory rating criteria, our laboratory is rated proficient so far for all types of contaminants.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.446-452
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• 2015

In order to evaluate and improve the ability of Korean testing laboratories to measure Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a proficiency test was organised by Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) based on ISO/IEC 17043. The proficiency test material used was 10 g of a granular ABS fortified with a mixture of congeners of PBDE (BDE-154, 183, 206, 209). Homogeneity and stability were investigated to assess the adequacy of the test material. The certified value established by KRISS based on the national reference was used for assigned value of each PBDE. The test materials were distributed to the 16 participating laboratories. The participating laboratories were requested to analyse the samples employing the methods used in their routine analysis. Each laboratory was given it’s own code to secure the anonymity. Participants results were evaluated with z-scores according to ISO/IEC 17043. The standard deviation for proficiency assessment was set by standard deviation of the participants results except for outlier. The results, the laboratory's performance and improvement of accuracy were discussed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 2007

The various environmental regulation directives such as RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products) and WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipments) are practically used as the technical barrier in international trade (TBT) of vehicles and electrical and electronic products recently. Regarding such an environmental regulation, Korea Research Institute of Standards Science (KRISS) organized a proficiency testing scheme to establish the reliability of measurement results produced by the relevant research institutes and test laboratories in Korea. Participants were 31 laboratories related to production of the electrical and electronic equipments and mobile vehicles. Two polypropylene samples of pellet type were employed as the proficiency testing materials (PTMs). Cadmium and lead were the analytes chosen among six components regulated in European Union (EU) RoHS directive. The PTMs were sent to the participants by post on September $1^{st}$ 2006, and deadline for results submission were October $10^{th}$ 2006. The results of each laboratory were evaluated in comparison with KRISS reference values using Robustic Z-score and Youden plot methods. The results of the various sample digestion methods were also compared. Most of participants reported good agreement within 10 % range of reference values. However, results from several laboratories showed significant biases from reference values. These laboratories should establish the quality assurance system for improvement of the measurement reliability.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2021

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop a quality control protocol of inorganic acids using ion chromatograph and to evaluate analytical proficiency of the legally designated agencies. Methods: This study prepared inorganic acid samples by injecting three anion certified solutions (chloride, nitrate, and sulfate) on the quartz filters. To investigate the storage stability and concentration consistency of the samples, 240 samples for each anion were tested at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 while storing at 4℃ and 25℃. To evaluate analytical proficiency, two separate testings were administrated for six skilled analysts and 46 analysts affiliated with legally designated agencies. Results: Average recoveries of the three ions after 16 weeks of storage were fairly high (over 95%). In addition, average recoveries (chloride = 97%, nitrate = 96%, and sulfate = 103%) after 16 weeks of storage at low temperate were relatively higher than those (94%, 93%, and 98%) at room temperature. The coefficients of variation (CV) for the three ions were less than 5% except for the sulfate sample at 5.56 ㎍ (CV = 12.4%). The average ratios of the concentration values analyzed by the legally designated agencies to the injected concentrations were close to 1. However, their CVs were relatively greater (chloride ≤ 49%, nitrate ≤ 14%, and sulfate ≤ 28%), which implies a need for quality control. Conclusions: The quality control protocol used in this study for the three inorganic acids can be utilized in the quality control for ion chromatography.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2011

Crocidolite quality control (QC) sampling created by the wet generation method has been validated by validation tests such as the accuracy, precision, and storage tests. For this study we designed and developed a manufacturing apparatus and standard operating procedure for making these QC samples. The most important step in the procedure of making QC samples was the stage eliminating static electricity in asbestos fibers. This static electricity hampers the fibers clog functioning. In accuracy and precision tests by phase contrast microscopy analysis, the difference between the reference values and the studied values was at maximum 17.8%. This satisfies the AIHA proficiency analytical test criteria for asbestos. We could confirm the nearly even distribution of crocidolite fibers on the membrane filter. Also, there was no loss of fibers in the storage test after the one month.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.288-296
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• 2009

We conducted validation for asbestos quality control (QC) samples made by the developed method which was presented in our published paper. The main results of the validation study are as follows. The pooled coefficient variations of analytical results in three different concentrations (low, medium, and high concentration) for amosite and chrysotile were less than 20 %, which met the sample homogenicity criteria of NIOSH. Also we confirmed the homogenicity of asbestos samples by using the relocatable field slide. To evaluate the field applicability of the developed asbestos QC samples, the field validation was performed with four proficient asbestos analysts by using the statistical methods of AIHA asbestos PAT program. All analytical results from four asbestos analysts were located in the acceptable range.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2010

This study was performed to validate reference materials (RMs) for proficiency testing (PT) in waste inter-laboratories. Dioxin RMs were prepared from fly ash in industrial incinerators. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of analytical results were 2.6~15.7% for the dioxin RMs in 10 replicates (between and withinbottles). Data were collected and statistical analysis was performed by the One-way ANOVA test. The combined uncertainties of target isomers in dioxin analysis were 0.114~7.091.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.284-295
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• 2008

For plastics samples, a method using combustion ion chromatography was selected as a method for rapid low-cost analysis to test whether hazardous substances are contained or not. Using combustion ion chromatography, a verification test for F, Cl and Br compounds generated a linear calibration curve with a correlation coefficient of $r^2$ = 0.999~1.000 in the calibration range from 0.5 to 4.0 mg/kg. The detection limits were found to be 0.005~0.024 mg/kg and quantitative limits were found to be 0.014~0.073 mg/kg. The recoveries of combustion ion chromatography using certified reference material (CRM) were found to be 95.5~104.9%. Based on these results, a proficiency test was conducted together with several laboratories in and out of the country, to make comparative analysis of the results from each laboratory. As a result, the data supported the use of combustion ion chromatography as an effective analysis method to deal with regulations for halogen-free electronic products and for other hazardous substances in the electronic products.