M/345 - Deposition of heavy metals
Standardisation Mandate to CEN for standard measuring methods for the determination of deposition of heavy metals except mercury
Mandate M/345 tasks CEN with developing standard measuring methods for determining the deposition of heavy metals, excluding mercury. The objective is to create harmonized standards to ensure accurate and consistent assessment of heavy metal deposition in environmental contexts. This mandate supports regulatory and monitoring efforts aimed at controlling heavy metal pollution and protecting public health and the environment. The approval of this mandate was resolved under reference CEN/BT C13/2004.
Purpose
This mandate requests the development of standardized measuring methods to determine the deposition of heavy metals, excluding mercury. The goal is to harmonize measurement techniques across the European Union to ensure consistent and reliable data on heavy metal deposition in the environment.
Standardisation request
The European Commission has tasked CEN (European Committee for Standardization) to create standards specifically focused on measurement methods for environmental deposition of heavy metals other than mercury. The mandate aims to fill a gap in existing standards by covering all relevant heavy metals except mercury, which is excluded from this mandate.
Expected deliverables
- Development of CEN standards specifying the procedures, techniques, and methodologies for measuring the deposition of heavy metals (apart from mercury).
- Deliverables are expected to enable uniform data collection and reporting across member states to support regulatory and environmental monitoring purposes.
Context
Heavy metals pose significant environmental and health risks due to their toxicity and persistence. Accurate and standardized measurement of their deposition is critical for monitoring pollution sources and effectiveness of regulatory frameworks. Mercury is excluded from this mandate possibly because separate standards or regulations address its measurement. This mandate (M/345) was resolved by the CEN/BT on reference C13/2004, signifying formal approval or consideration within the CEN framework.
This mandate covers the development of standard measuring methods for determining the deposition of heavy metals, excluding mercury, in various environmental contexts. It focuses on standardisation within the sector related to environmental monitoring and assessment of heavy metal pollution.
General Information
This European Standard specifies three methods for the determination of deposition of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb), that can be used in the framework of the European Council Directive on Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management [1] and the 4th Air Quality Daughter Directive [2]. This European Standard specifies performance requirements with which the method has to comply in order to meet the data quality objectives given in the Directives. The performance characteristics of the method were determined in comparative field validation tests carried out at four European locations [3].
This European Standard specifies methods for sampling wet-only and bulk deposition of As, Cd, Ni and Pb, sample treatment and analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) or by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The method is applicable for deposition measurements in
a) rural and remote areas;
b) industrial areas;
c) urban areas.
The standard is validated for the working ranges listed in Table 1.
Table 1 - Validated working ranges for the methods
Lower limit (µg/m² day) Upper limit (µg/m² day)
As 0,05 2
Cd 0,01 1
Ni 0,05 25
Pb 0,1 65
NOTE The ranges given are based upon the values measured in the field validation test. The upper and lower limits are the observed minimum and maximum values measured during the field validation tests. The actual lower limits of the working ranges depend on the variability of the laboratory blank and the precipitation amount range in bulk and wet-only.
- Standard32 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
This European Standard specifies three methods for the determination of deposition of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb), that can be used in the framework of the European Council Directive on Ambient Air Quality Assessment and Management [1] and the 4th Air Quality Daughter Directive [2]. This European Standard specifies performance requirements with which the method has to comply in order to meet the data quality objectives given in the Directives. The performance characteristics of the method were determined in comparative field validation tests carried out at four European locations [3].
This European Standard specifies methods for sampling wet-only and bulk deposition of As, Cd, Ni and Pb, sample treatment and analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) or by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
The method is applicable for deposition measurements in
a) rural and remote areas;
b) industrial areas;
c) urban areas.
The standard is validated for the working ranges listed in Table 1.
Table 1 - Validated working ranges for the methods
Lower limit (µg/m² day) Upper limit (µg/m² day)
As 0,05 2
Cd 0,01 1
Ni 0,05 25
Pb 0,1 65
NOTE The ranges given are based upon the values measured in the field validation test. The upper and lower limits are the observed minimum and maximum values measured during the field validation tests. The actual lower limits of the working ranges depend on the variability of the laboratory blank and the precipitation amount range in bulk and wet-only.
- Standard32 pagesEnglish languagee-Library read for1 day
Frequently Asked Questions
A European Standardization Mandate is a formal request from the European Commission to the European Standardization Organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) to develop European standards (ENs) in support of EU legislation and policies. Mandates are issued under Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and help ensure that products and services meet the essential requirements set out in EU directives and regulations.
M/345 is a European Standardization Mandate titled "Standardisation Mandate to CEN for standard measuring methods for the determination of deposition of heavy metals except mercury". Standardisation Mandate to CEN for standard measuring methods for the determination of deposition of heavy metals except mercury There are 2 standards developed under this mandate.
Standards developed in response to a mandate and cited in the Official Journal of the European Union become "harmonized standards". Products manufactured in compliance with harmonized standards benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation, facilitating CE marking and market access across the European Economic Area.