Thermal desorption GC-MS as a tool to provide PAH certified standard reference material on particulate matter quartz filters

►A methodology to certify particulate bound PAHs on filter media is presented. ► Fast analysis with minimum filter surface losses relies on thermo-desorption technique. ► PAH content, homogeneity, storage stability and uncertainty values are evaluated. ► Certified values were validated by means of an inter-laboratory exercise. ► The methodology provides ad-hoc PAH certified concentrations.