QUASIMEME Workshop
Analysis of PCBs
Visby, Gotland, Sweden, 3-4 June 2010
Co-organisers: Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Purpose of the Workshop
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) have been analysed in environmental laboratories since the 1970s. After years of struggle, the analysis seems to be under control now by most laboratories. However, with coefficients of variation of over 30% for a large number of the congeners, and no signs of further improvement, QUASIMEME has considered the need of a third workshop on the analysis of PCBs. By making use of the opportunity of the International PCB Workshop that is held in Visby, Gotland, Sweden ( we hope to attract many participants who like to gain knowledge on fate and behaviour of PCBs at that workshop and combine it with renewing their analytical knowledge at the QUASIMEME workshop on PCB analysis that will be organised back-to-back at the same venue. The purpose of the workshop on the analysis of PCBs is to further improve the quality of the analysis of these contaminants. The workshop will include discussions on the results of recent QUASIMEME interlaboratory studies, presentations of experienced scientists in PCBs, discussion on new stationary phases, analysis of dioxin-like PCBs, etc.
This workshop will be held in Visby, on the Island of Gotland, in the Baltic, Sweden. This workshop is organised by QUASIMEME, in collaboration with the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of the VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the Department of Applied Environmental Science of Stockholm University, Sweden.
Benefits
The workshop will be beneficial for those working in the field of analysis of PCBs in all kinds of environmental matrices.
Date and venue
Date: 3 June 2010 (9.00-17.00 hrs) and 4 June 2010 (9.00 to 12.30 hrs)
Venue: The workshop will be held at Clarion Hotel Wisby in Visby, the medieval town on the beautiful Island of Gotland in the central Baltic Proper.
Topics and speakers
The workshop will cover all aspects of the analysis of PCBs in environmental samples including:
- Sampling
- Extraction and clean-up
- Instrumental analysis
- Quantification
- QA/QC (incl. results from the recent PCB interlaboratory study)
- Stationary phases
- Multi-dimensional GC
- Dioxin-like PCB analysis
Key-note speakers
The following key-note speakers will present overviews on developments in PCB analysis: Ms. Ulla Eriksson (ITM, Stockholm, Sweden), Prof. Dr. Jacob de Boer (IVM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
Your contributions and your questions
There is room for contributing lectures and posters. For submission of abstracts, see under registration. When you have specific questions on analytical issues, please send them to the QUASIMEME Project Office () prior to the workshop, together with your registration, so that we can include those in the discussion sessions at the Workshop
Workshop Arrangements
Scientific Programme
In addition to the aforementioned presentations there will be ample time for discussions and exchange of information between delegates. A more detailed programme will appear two weeks before the workshop. For further questions on the programme, contact the QUASIMEME Project Office ().
Registration
Participants should register before 15 May 2010. The registration fee is 300 Euro for participants on the QUASIMEME workshop only, 450 Euro for early registration before 30 April 2010 for the international PCB workshop and the QUASIMEME workshop together and 550 Euro for registration after 30 April for the international PCB workshop and the QUASIMEME workshop together. The fee includes attendance of the workshop, report of the workshop, coffees, teas, lunch the workshop dinner on Thursday 3 June. Registration can be done through the QUASIMEME website or by email to . Title and abstract (ca. 200 words) and indication of oral and poster presentation should be sent to the same email address before 15 April 2010. The maximum number of participants will be 50; the registration will be closed a soon as this number is reached.
Hotel
Accommodation is available in Clarion Hotel Wisby, Best Western Solhem Hotel, Best Western Strand Hotel or Hamnhotellet. You are kindly asked to book your own room using the reference QUASIMEME workshop.
Travel
Directions to Clarion Hotel Wisby, Visby:
By ferry
You can reach Gotland with modern high speed ferries. The ferry company, Destination Gotland, sails to Visby from Oskarshamn, about 100 km north of Kalmar in southern Sweden, and from Nynäshamn, about 60 km south of Stockholm. The voyage takes approx. 3 hours.
Prices, on-line booking and departure times can be found at:
By air
If you come from abroad you will most likely arrive at the main international airport in the Stockholm area: Arlanda. Visby is served from Arlanda terminal 3 by Skyways with at least four daily flights. From the smaller airport Stockholm Bromma close to the city centre both Skyways and Gotlandsflyg have many daily connections. There are also a smaller number of connections from Norrköping and Skavsta.
Prices, on-line booking and departure times can be found at:
QUASIMEME and co-organisers
QUASIMEME (Quality Assurance of Information in Marine Environmental Monitoring in Europe) operates a series of Proficiency Testing Studies for institutes making chemical measurements worldwide. As part of the improvement programme, QUASIMEME co-operates with centres of excellence to provide workshops for discussion, and “hands on” experience to compliment the development programmes in the Laboratory Performance Studies.
The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of the VU University in Amsterdam acts as a centre of excellence for QUASIMEME. It contributes to biological test material testing for proficiency tests on organic contaminants and trace metals. In addition, scientific advice is given to the annual QUASIMEME programmes through the Scientific Assessment Group. IVM assists in organising workshops on specific analytical topics. IVM combines knowledge on analytical chemistry and toxicology to address a broad range of environmental issues, with a focus on contaminants. More information can be found at
The Department of Applied Environmental Science (ITM) of the Stockholm University is multidisciplinary in its research and teaching, with focus on society’s impact on natural systems and processes. The research and teaching encompass the transport, fate and biological effects of environmental pollutants and trace substances, including the development and use of chemical, biological and physical methods as well as numerical models. ITM provides also external expert support to Swedish environmental authorities. More information can be found at
QUASIMEME Workshop
Analysis of PCBs
3-4 June 2010
Please complete and return before 15 May 2010 by fax or E-mail. Please provide a 200 word abstract if you would like to make an oral or poster presentation.
I will attend the above workshopI am a QUASIMEME participant (Laboratory code)
I would like to make an oral presentation
I would like to present a poster
Title of Presentation
Name
Institute
Address
Postcode/Zip
Country
Telephone
Fax
Please reply to:
QUASIMEME Laboratory Performance Studies
Wageningen UR
Alterra CWK
PO Box 47
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)317 48 65 46
Fax: +31 (0)317 41 90 00
E-mail: