EFSA Format

Data format of the EFDA reporting tool on trace elements

The page presents the the data format of the EFDA reporting tool necessary for submitting the background sediment data.

Report on Trace Elements

The details of EFSA submission and their objectives are described in this call from EFSA.

  • Data on natural background concentrations of trace elements (cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc)
  • Trace element concentrations in marine sediment along the coasts of EU, EFTA, and EU candidate countries (including fjords and estuaries)
  • Samples collected within the last 15 years (2009 to present)
  • Samples from pristine areas (defined as areas unaffected by point or diffuse pollution sources)
  • Supporting metadata regarding porewater pH, sediment texture (% clay <2 µm, % silt 2–63 µm, % sand >63 µm), and organic matter content (%)

Column Format

Field Label Field Name Description Catalogue Optionality
sampleId Sample Identifier Sample identification according to the data provider. Mandatory
recId Record Identifier Automatically generated unique identifier by concatenation of sample identifier and speciation. Mandatory
envComp Environmental Compartment Select the compartment in which the sample was collected. envComp Mandatory
pristineLoc Pristine Location YES/NO if area sampled was affected by pollution. yesNo Mandatory
sampleLocGC Sampling Location Geographical Coordinates Latitude and longitude in decimal degrees. Mandatory
sampleLocCM Sampling Location Country, Municipality Country and municipality of sampling location. Mandatory
sampleDate Sampling Date Date of sample collection. Mandatory
traceEl Trace Element Trace element measured. traceEl Mandatory
spec Speciation Oxidation state of the trace element. spec Mandatory
conc Measured Concentration Analytical result of concentration. Mandatory
methAn Method of Analysis Method used to measure concentration. methAn Mandatory
unit unit Unit of the relevant data element. unit Mandatory
weight Expression of product Dry weight or wet weight. weight Dependent Mandatory
LOD Limit of Detection Limit of detection. Optional
LOQ Limit of Quantification Limit of quantification. Optional
accLab Accredited Laboratory YES/NO if laboratory is accredited. yesNo Optional
phSed pH of porewater of the Sediment Measured pH of porewater in sediment. Optional
TextureSedClay Texture of the Clay Sediment Clay fraction (% dw). Optional
TextureSedSilt Texture of the Silt Sediment Silt fraction (% dw). Optional
TextureSedSand Texture of the Sand Sediment Sand fraction (% dw). Optional
ocSed Organic Content of the Sediment Organic matter in sediment (% dw). Optional
phWater pH of Water Measured pH of water. Optional
hardWat Hardness of Water Water hardness category. hardWater Optional
DOC Dissolved Organic Carbon of Water Dissolved organic carbon (mg/L). Optional
publicData Data publicly available YES/NO if data are publicly available. yesNo Optional
refPublication Reference to the published data Reference to publication. Optional
comments Comments Open comments field. Optional

Catalogue Data

envComp

Term Name Term Code Description Note
soil A16PE Land Group covering the samples for analysis of different types of lands and grounds.
freshwater A0F7G Naturally occurring freshwater Freshwater excluding sea- and brackish water.
freshwater sediment A198T#F34.A0F7G Sediment, HOST-SAMPLED = Naturally occurring freshwater Naturally occurring solid material transported by natural forces.
marine sediment A198T#F34.A16YY Sediment, HOST-SAMPLED = Seawater Naturally occurring solid material transported by natural forces.

yesNo

Term Name Term Code
No N
Yes Y

traceEl

Term Name Term Code
Co RF-00000161-CHE
Cu RF-00000167-CHE
I RF-00000050-CHE
Mn RF-00000176-CHE
Mo RF-00000179-CHE
Se RF-00000184-CHE
Zn RF-00000205-CHE

spec

Term Name Term Code
Co (Total) RF-00000162-CHE
Co(+II)
Co(+III)
Other
Cu (Total) RF-00000168-CHE
Cu(+I)
Cu(+II)
Other
I (Total) check CAS number, ECHA
I(-I) RF-00000310-NTR
iodide
I(+I)
I(+III) RF-00000049-CHE
Iodates
I(+V)
I(+VII)
Other
Mn (Total) RF-00000177-CHE
Mn(+II)
Mn(+IV)
Mn(+VI)
Mn(+VII)
Other
Mo (Total) RF-00000180-CHE
Mo(+IV)
Mo(+VI)
Other
Se (Total) RF-00000186-CHE
Se(-II)
Se(+II)
Se(+IV)
Other
Zn (Total) RF-00000206-CHE
Zn(+II)
Other

methAn

Term Name Term Code Note
ICP-MS F064A Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
ICP-AES F057A Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy
FAAS F350A Flame atomic absorption spectrometry
ETAAS (GFAAS) F054A Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry
WD-XRFS F832A Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy
IC-UV/VIS F833A Ion Chromatography UV/VIS detection
HPLC-ICP-MS F029A High performance liquid chromatography ICP-MS
GC-ICP-MS F366A Gas Chromatography ICP-MS
Other NA NA

unit

Term Name Term Code Data Element (Field Label)
mg/kg G061A conc
ng/kg G077A conc
% G138A conc
mol G119A conc
mmol G115A conc
% G138A conc
% G138A ocSed
mg/L G062A DOC

weight

Term Name Term Code Note
dw B002A Dry matter, dry weight
ww B001A Dry matter, dry weight

hardWater

Term Name Description
Soft 0–60 mg CaCO3/L or 0–0.6 mmol/L or 0–3.37 dGH
Moderate 61–120 mg CaCO3/L or 0.61–1.20 mmol/L or 3.38–6.74 dGH
Hard 121–180 mg CaCO3/L or 1.21–1.80 mmol/L or 6.75–10.11 dGH
Very hard ≥181 mg CaCO3/L or ≥1.81 mmol/L or ≥10.12 dGH