This reference material is primarily intended for use in the calibration of procedures and the development of methods for the determination of trace metals in marine fauna and materials of similar matrix. This reference material was prepared from edible grade lobster tomalley. The material was homogenized, spray dried, defatted with hexane and vacuum dried. The resulting powder was bottled at NRC. After bottling the material was sterilized by subjecting it to a minimum dose of 25 kGy gamma irradiation at the Canadian Irradiation Centre, Laval, Québec. TORT-3 is lot #3 in the series of lobster hepatopancreas CRM's for trace metals. The predecessor CRM, TORT-2, has been periodically analyzed for more than ten years and found to be both physically and chemically stable over this time interval. We expect similar results for TORT-3. Uncertainty components for long and short term stability were considered negligible and are thus not included in the uncertainty budget. The methymercury content of TORT-3 is continually monitored by NRC. Studies indicate the methylmercury content in similar materials has been stable for more than ten years. This is not expected to change, provided the material is stored as noted above. keywords: Biological material, Animal tissue, Foodstuff, Fish/Shellfish, Trace elements, Heavy metals, Speciation analysis, Mercury speciation , Arsenic speciation |
