In this proficiency testing programme laboratories from England, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway have participated.
Filters and cassettes were distributed to the laboratories in March 2001. The laboratories were asked to pre-weigh the filters prior to exposure to welding fume, and to return the prepared filter cassettes by 20th of April 2001. Realistic work-room air and synthetically produced reference filters were distributed to the participants in May 2001 with a deadline for replies of 29th of June 2001.
The laboratories were asked to measure a number of occupational important elements listed in the enclosed protocol (Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, Zn) and total mass.
Two out of the twelve laboratories completed the analytical protocol with a performance complying with all the assessment criteria.