IAEA Data Quality Assurance – An integrated approach to verifying and improving measurement quality in marine monitoring and research

• DOI: 10.5194/oos2025-1199
• Publication Date: 2025-03-26T02:42:35Z
• Authors: Katarzyna Sobiech...; Sabine Azemard; Philippe Bersuder; Paul Mc Ginnity; Iolanda Osvath; Mai Khanh Pham; Inmaculada Tolosa

Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of measurement data for monitoring and researching radioactivity and non-radioactive pollutants in the marine environment is crucial for the effective protection of people and the environment in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Member States. The IAEA provides comprehensive data quality assurance products – Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and the implementation of Proficiency Tests (PTs) and Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC) exercises – for verifying the quality of measurements in marine laboratories. The IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories produce and distribute marine CRMs. These CRMs are essential for the validation of analytical methods and for maintaining their fitness for purpose, ensuring that laboratories worldwide can achieve accurate and comparable results. The CRMs produced by the IAEA cover a wide range of marine matrices, including seawater, biota and sediments, and constituents including radionuclides, trace metals and persistent organic pollutants. The IAEA maintains a maintain a quality management system in accordance with the International Standard ISO 17034:2016 and is an accredited producer of selected certified reference materials for activity concentration measurements of radionuclides.In addition to CRMs, the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories conduct regular PTs and occasional worldwide ILCs to assess the performance of laboratories involved in marine monitoring. These exercises provide an independent evaluation of laboratory capabilities, identifying any potentially needed corrective or preventative action and fostering a culture of continuous improvement regarding measurement quality. Participating laboratories benefit from benchmarking their performance against international standards, gaining insights into their analytical processes, and receiving expert feedback from the IAEA.By providing both CRMs and PTs for radioactive and non-radioactive marine pollutants, the IAEA significantly elevates the quality of marine environmental data by supporting the credibility of research findings, underpinning regulatory compliance and informed decision making in marine environmental management. By promoting best practices and standardization, the IAEA marine laboratories are contributing to the global scientific community’s mission to protect and sustainably manage ocean resources.This presentation will provide an overview of the IAEA’s quality assurance products available to laboratories in Member States, highlighting the development and application of marine CRMs and the implementation of PTs and ILCs. Insights into the methodologies and benefits for laboratories, as well as practical guidance on participating in these programs will be provided. Case studies will illustrate the positive impacts of these initiatives on measurement quality in marine monitoring. For example, the harmonization of quality assurance programs under the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan through MEDPOL will demonstrate how these QA initiatives have strengthened the accuracy and comparability of pollutant measurements across Mediterranean laboratories, supporting regional efforts in pollution control and environmental protection.