ISO 28540-2011 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 28540:2011 — Water quality — Determination of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in water — Method using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC‑MS). This international standard specifies a validated analytical procedure for measuring the concentration of at least 16 specified PAHs in drinking, ground and surface waters (and, with modification, in wastewater), including sample handling limits and performance criteria for GC‑MS analysis.

Abstract

ISO 28540:2011 defines a GC‑MS method for the determination of a set of 16 PAH compounds in water matrices. It gives minimum reporting/concentration thresholds (0.005 µg/L for drinking and ground water, 0.01 µg/L for surface water), applicability for samples with up to 150 mg/L suspended matter, and notes that the procedure can be adapted for wastewater subject to validation.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed on systematic review and retained as current).
• Publication date: 2011 (Edition 1 — published mid‑2011; ISO entry shows 2011‑08 / publication timeline July–August 2011).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.060.50 — Examination of water for chemical substances.
• Edition / version: 1st edition (2011).
• Number of pages: 27.

Scope

The standard specifies a GC‑MS analytical method for the determination of at least 16 selected PAHs in drinking water, ground water and surface water at the stated concentration ranges; it is applicable to samples with suspended solids up to 150 mg/L and can be extended to wastewaters after suitable method validation. The method covers sample preparation, instrumental determination by GC‑MS, calibration and quality control requirements necessary to achieve the stated reporting limits.

Key topics and requirements

• Target analytes: at least 16 specified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) identified in the standard's Table 1.
• Analytical technique: gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC‑MS) as the identification and quantification method.
• Performance levels: reporting / quantitation limits (0.005 µg/L for drinking/ground water; 0.01 µg/L for surface water) and applicability up to 150 mg/L suspended matter.
• Sample preparation and extraction: procedures and clean‑up steps required to produce extracts compatible with GC‑MS analysis (solid‑phase extraction or liquid–liquid extraction approaches as appropriate and validated by the laboratory).
• Calibration, quality control and validation: requirements for standards, calibration curves, procedural blanks, recovery checks and instrument performance to demonstrate method suitability.
• Matrix notes: guidance on adapting the method for wastewater or other matrices, subject to laboratory validation and documented modifications.
• Reporting: criteria for result reporting, detection/quantitation limits and uncertainty considerations.

Typical use and users

Environmental testing laboratories, water utilities, regulatory and compliance agencies, contract analytical laboratories, research institutions and consultants use ISO 28540:2011 for routine monitoring, compliance testing and research where reliable measurement of PAHs in water is required. The standard is intended for laboratories with GC‑MS capability and quality systems for trace organic analysis.

Related standards

ISO 28540:2011 is part of the ISO water‑quality analytical methods family. Relevant related standards include ISO 17993 (determination of PAHs by HPLC with fluorescence detection after liquid–liquid extraction) and sampling and preservation standards in the ISO 5667 series; other complementary methods such as ISO 9377‑2 (hydrocarbon index by solvent extraction and GC) are often used in petroleum/hydrocarbon monitoring. Laboratories commonly apply the combination of these standards to cover different analyte sets, matrices and regulatory requirements.

Keywords

PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, water quality, GC‑MS, analytical method, drinking water, surface water, groundwater, environmental monitoring, solid‑phase extraction, liquid–liquid extraction, limit of detection, ISO 28540:2011.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 28540:2011 is an international standard that specifies a GC‑MS method for determining 16 specified PAHs in water matrices (drinking, ground and surface waters) and gives method performance criteria and applicability limits.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the analytical procedure (sample preparation, extraction/clean‑up, GC‑MS determination), calibration and quality control requirements, reporting limits, and applicability notes (including samples with up to 150 mg/L suspended matter and potential adaptation for wastewater).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Accredited environmental and water‑testing laboratories, regulatory agencies, water utilities, consultants and research labs performing trace PAH analysis in aqueous matrices.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As of ISO’s latest systematic review information the 2011 edition was reviewed and confirmed (the standard was confirmed in subsequent reviews, most recently noted in 2022), so the 2011 edition remains current. Users should check for any later amendments or replacement standards before relying on the method for regulatory compliance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It belongs to the broader set of ISO water quality measurement standards (e.g., the ISO 5667 sampling series and other analytical standards such as ISO 17993 and ISO 9377‑2) that together cover sampling, preservation and analytical determination of organic and inorganic contaminants in water.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: PAH; GC‑MS; water quality; drinking water; surface water; groundwater; environmental monitoring; analytical method; ISO 28540:2011.