Analytical and Interlaboratory Evaluation of an Adapted Procedure for 210Pb Determination by Alpha Spectrometry in Mangrove Sediments

Abstract An adapted procedure for indirect ²¹⁰Pb determination through ²¹⁰Po alpha spectrometry in mangrove sediments was evaluated for analytical performance and interlaboratory comparability, including the influence of analytical differences on CF–CS-derived sediment accumulation rates. Analytical performance was assessed using blanks, minimum detectable activity, ²⁰⁹Po recovery, and IAEA-412 reference material. Comparison of 46 sediment sections between LABTOX-UES and IAEA-MEL showed statistical compatibility for 80.4% of paired results. York regression indicated a slope compatible with unity but a significantly negative intercept, precluding complete analytical equivalence. Nevertheless, surface mass and sediment accumulation rates showed no significant interlaboratory differences, supporting the procedure under the evaluated conditions.