High-accuracy differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry with indium as an internal standard

Indium(III) is used as an internal standard for the determination of cadmium, copper and lead at the 20 ng g^?1 level by using differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry; the supporting electrolyte is 1.0 mol l^?1 ammonium bromide/0.25 mol l^?1 nitric acid. For each solution, each stripping peak of interest is normalized to the corresponding peak height obtained in the same voltammogram for a known, added concentration of indium(III). A calibration curve is prepared for each element by using these normalized peak heights. The technique is demonstrated for NBS SRM 1643b (Trace Elements in Water). The relative standard deviations for six independent determinations of Cd, Cu, and Pb at the 20 ng g^?1 level are 1.9%, 5.4%, and 1.2%, respectively. The imprecision for copper is limited by the sloping baseline at its stripping potential. The detection limit for each element is less than 1 ng g^?1.     

Simultaneous determination of fluoroquinolone and tetracycline antibacterials in sewage sludge using ultrasonic-assisted extraction and HPLC-MS/MS

A reliable method was proposed for the simultaneous determination of five fluoroquinolones (FQs) and two tetracyclines (TCs) in sewage sludge using ultrasonic-assisted extraction (USE) followed by SPE cleanup and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)/MS analysis with electrospray ionisation (ESI) in a positive mode. The USE conditions (e.g. extraction solvent, pH, and extraction cycles) and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) parameters were optimised. Quantification was performed by internal standard calibration in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Recoveries of the antibacterials ranged from 41 to 123%, with relative standard deviations within 17%. The sample-based limits of quantification were 10–63?ng?g^?1 dry weight (dw) for FQs (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin) and 250–500?ng?g^?1 dw for TCs (tetracycline and oxytetracycline). The method was applied to determine the antibacterials in sewage sludge and sediment samples were collected from the Pearl River Delta, China. Ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin were frequently detected, ranging from 1052 to 17740?ng?g^?1 dw in dewatered sludge samples, 585–3545?ng?g^?1 dw in untreated solids, and 98–258?ng?g^?1 dw in an urban stream sediment sample, respectively. Lomefloxacin and enrofloxacin were also occasionally detected.     

Sensitive determination of traces of boron in waters,fertilizers na geological and biological materials by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

A method is described for determining traces of boron in water, fertilizers, geological and biological (reference) materials by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry after separation on an Amberlite IRA-743 borate-selective ion-exchange column. Boron (–250 ng g^?1) in water can be determined with an accuracy of 5–20% (computed on a 2s basis). After correction for weighing errors and for moisture, content, which varied from 0 to 8% for the samples tested, 1–35 μg g^?1 boron in “dry” fertilizer, biological or geological sample can be assayed with an accuracy of 5–30% (2s). In an IAEA interlaboratory program on a simulated fresh water, the method yielded a value of 24.3 +? 2 μg l^?1, compared to the make-up value of 25 μg l^?1.     

Electrochemical investigation of the chemical diffusion,partial ionic conductivities,and other kinetic parameters in Li3Sb and Li3Bi

The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) has been used to electrochemically determine the chemical and component diffusion coefficients, the electrical and general lithium mobilities, the partial lithium ionic conductivity, the parabolic tarnishing rate constant, and the thermodynamic enhancement factor in “Li₃Sb” and “Li₃Bi” as a function of stoichiometry in the temperature range from 360 to 600°C. LiCl, KCl eutectic mixtures were used as molten salt electrolytes and Al, “LiAl” two-phase mixtures as solid reference and counterelectrodes. The stoichiometric range of the antimony compound is rather small, 7 × 10^?3 at 360°C, whereas the bismuth compound has a range of 0.22 (380°C), mostly on the lithium deficit side of the ideal composition. The thermodynamic enhancement factor in “Li₃Sb” depends strongly on the stoichiometry, and has a peak value of nearly 70 000; for “Li₃Bi” it rises more smoothly to a maximum of 360. The chemical diffusion coefficient for “Li₃Sb” is 2 × 10^?5 cm² sec^?1 at negative deviations from the ideal stoichiometry and increases by about an order of magnitude in the presence of excess lithium at 360°C. The corresponding value for “Li₃Bi” is 10^?4 cm² sec^?1 with high lithium deficit, and increases markedly when approaching ideal stoichiometry. The activation energies are small, 0.1–0.3 eV, depending on the stoichiometry, in both phases. The mobility of lithium in “Li₃Bi” is about 500 times greater than in “Li₃Sb” with a lithium deficit. The ionic conductivity in “Li₃Sb” increases from about 10^?4 Ω^?1 cm^?1 in the vacancy transport region to about 2 × 10^?3 where transport is probably by interstial motion at 360°C. For “Li₃Bi” a practically constant value of nearly 10^?1 Ω^?1 cm^?1 is found at 380°C. The parabolic tarnishing rate constant shows a sharp increase at higher lithium activities in “Li₃Sb” whereas in “Li₃Bi” it has a roughly linear dependence upon the logarithm of the lithium activity. The tarnishing process is about 2 orders of magnitude slower for “Li₃Sb” than for “Li₃Bi.” Because of the fast ionic transport in these mixed conducting materials, “Li₃Sb” and “Li₃Bi” may be called “fast electrodes.”     

Development of an accurate,sensitive, and robust isotope dilution laser ablation ICP-MS method for simultaneous multi-element analysis (chlorine,sulfur, and heavy metals) in coal samples

A method for the direct multi-element determination of Cl, S, Hg, Pb, Cd, U, Br, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn in powdered coal samples has been developed by applying inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ICP-IDMS) with laser-assisted introduction into the plasma. A sector-field ICP-MS with a mass resolution of 4,000 and a high-ablation rate laser ablation system provided significantly better sensitivity, detection limits, and accuracy compared to a conventional laser ablation system coupled with a quadrupole ICP-MS. The sensitivity ranges from about 590 cps for ³⁵Cl⁺ to more than 6 × 10⁵ cps for ²³⁸U⁺ for 1 μg of trace element per gram of coal sample. Detection limits vary from 450 ng g⁻¹ for chlorine and 18 ng g⁻¹ for sulfur to 9.5 pg g⁻¹ for mercury and 0.3 pg g⁻¹ for uranium. Analyses of minor and trace elements in four certified reference materials (BCR-180 Gas Coal, BCR-331 Steam Coal, SRM 1632c Trace Elements in Coal, SRM 1635 Trace Elements in Coal) yielded good agreement of usually not more than 5% deviation from the certified values and precisions of less than 10% relative standard deviation for most elements. Higher relative standard deviations were found for particular elements such as Hg and Cd caused by inhomogeneities due to associations of these elements within micro-inclusions in coal which was demonstrated for Hg in SRM 1635, SRM 1632c, and another standard reference material (SRM 2682b, Sulfur and Mercury in Coal). The developed LA-ICP-IDMS method with its simple sample pretreatment opens the possibility for accurate, fast, and highly sensitive determinations of environmentally critical contaminants in coal as well as of trace impurities in similar sample materials like graphite powder and activated charcoal on a routine basis. Figure LA-ICP-IDMS allows direct multi-element determination in powdered coal samples     

LC–MS–MS Simultaneous Determination of Paracetamol, Pseudoephedrine and Chlorpheniramine in Human Plasma: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma. Diphenhydramine was used as the internal standard. Analytes were extracted from alkalized human plasma by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) using ethyl acetate. After electrospray ionization positive ion fragments were detected in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer. The method was linear in the concentration range of 20.0–10000.0 ng mL^?1 for paracetamol, 1.0–500.0 ng mL^?1 for pseudoephedrine and 0.1–50.0 ng mL^?1 for chlorpheniramine. The intra- and inter-day precisions were below 14.5% and the bias was between ?7.3 and +2.8% for all analytes. The validated LC–MS–MS method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in which each healthy Chinese volunteer received a tablet containing 300 mg benorylate, 30 mg pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and 2 mg chlorpheniramine maleate. This is the first assay method described for the simultaneous determination of paracetamol, pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma samples.     

Certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations

The certification of a second-generation biological reference material (freeze-dried human serum) for trace element determinations is described. The material was prepared under rigorously controlled conditions to avoid extraneous additions. Analytical data were obtained by the authors as well as by numerous other intra- and extra-mural investigators, solicited on the basis of established experience in determining selected elements. For 14 trace elements (aluminium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, bromine, rubidium, molybdenum, cadmium and caesium) certified values (in ng g^?1 or μg g^?1 dry weight) are listed; for an additional element (nickel) a best estimate (in ng g^? dry weight) is added. Trace element concentrations in the material, which is available to the scientific community, closely approximate those in normal, lyophilized blood plasma or serum samples. The material thus provides the means to check the accuracy and precision of analytical procedures for quantifying low-level trace elements in the best possible conditions and to detect errors that can easily be overlooked when reference materials with higher levels of trace elements are used. In addition, and in contrast to already existing biological reference materials with high levels of trace elements, it offers the possibility of identifying unsuspected errors at the sample preparation stage.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners and toxaphene in selected marine standard reference materials

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners and components of the complex mixture toxaphene are stable in the environment and readily bioaccumulated into wildlife and human tissues. PBDEs are presently used in large quantities worldwide as flame retardants in textiles, furniture, computer equipment, and cables. Toxaphene is a complex mixture of chlorinated bornanes and bornenes that was the most heavily used pesticide in the United States until it was banned in 1982; however, some countries continue to use toxaphene. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has quantified PBDE congeners and toxaphene in several available Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) using methods of gas chromatography with electron impact mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) and GC negative chemical ionization (NCI) MS, respectively. SRM 1588a Organics in Cod Liver Oil and SRM 1945 Organics in Whale Blubber were examined for PBDE congeners 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154, total toxaphene, and toxaphene congeners 26, 50, and 62. SRM 1946 Lake Superior Fish Tissue was also examined for total toxaphene and toxaphene congeners. The sum of the PBDE congeners (mean, (1 SD) wet basis) for SRM 1945 was 150 ng g^–1 (7 ng g^–1). The concentration of PBDE 47 in SRM 1588a was 82.7 ng g^–1 (2.8 ng g^–1). Other PBDEs were detected in SRM 1588a but were not quantified due their low levels. The total toxaphene (wet mass basis) was 1,210 ng g^–1 (127 ng g^–1), 1,960 ng g^–1 (133 ng g^–1), and 3,980 ng g^–1 (248 ng g^–1) in SRMs 1945, 1946, and 1588a, respectively. The values for PBDEs and toxaphene determined in the SRMs, while not certified, indicate that the SRMs will be suitable control materials for PBDE and toxaphene analyses.     

In‐vitro Aluminum Determination and Preconcentration in Blood of Dialysis Patients Based on Ionic Liquid Dispersive Liquid‐Liquid Biomicroextraction by 2‐Amino‐3‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl)propanoic Acid

In this study, trace amounts of aluminum in serum of dialysis patients were chelated with 2‐Amino‐3‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl)propanoic acid (Histidine) and determined by electro‐thermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). A fast and efficient method based on ionic liquid dispersive liquid‐liquid bio‐micro‐extraction (IL‐DLLBME) was developed for the determination of Al cation in human blood serum samples. In this work, a small amount of 1‐Hexyl‐3‐methylimmidazolum hexafluorophosphate ([HMIM] [PF₆]) as an extractant solvent was dissolved in acetone as a dispersant solvent and then the binary solution was rapidly injected by a syringe into the serum containing Al³⁺,Which have already in‐vitro chelated by Histidine amino acid (Al‐His) at pH = 6.5. After separation, the settled IL‐phase was dissolved in ethanol up to 200 μL and 20 μL of samples injected into the ET‐AAS by auto‐sampler. Various parameters have been studied and optimized for 10 mL of sample. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factor (EF), limit of detection (LOD) and working range (peak area mode) were obtained 53, 15 ng L^?1 and 0.05‐4.1 μg L^?1 respectively. In vitro Al chelation showed that His can significantly decrease aluminum concentration in serum of dialysis patients. Validation of methodology was confirmed by standard reference material (SRM).     

Determination of Mercury in Urine and Seawater by Flow Injection Vapor Generation Isotope Dilution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A simple and inexpensive laboratory-built vapor generator was used with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the determination of mercury in urine and seawater samples. The applications of vapor generation ICP-MS alleviated the non-spectroscopic interferences and the sensitivity problem of mercury determination encountered when the conventional pneumatic nebulizer was used for sample introduction. The concentration of mercury was determined by isotope dilution method. The isotope ratio of mercury was calculated from the peak areas of each injection peak. The repeatability of the peak areas and isotope ratio determinations of seven consecutive injections of 1 ng mL^?1 Hg solution were 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively. This method has a detection limit of 0.07 ng mL^?1 for mercury. This method was applied to determine mercury in a CASS-3 nearshore seawater reference sample, NASS-4 open ocean seawater reference sample, NIST SRM 2670 freeze-dried urine reference sample and several urine and seawater samples collected from National Sun Yat-Sen University. The results for the reference samples agreed satisfactorily with the reference values. Results for other samples analyzed by the isotope dilution method and the method of standard additions agreed satisfactorily. Precision was better than 10% for most of the determinations.     

Three new mussel tissue standard reference materials (SRMs) for the determination of organic contaminants

Three new mussel tissue standard reference materials (SRMs) have been developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the determination of the concentrations of organic contaminants. The most recently prepared material, SRM 1974b, is a fresh frozen tissue homogenate prepared from mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. The other two materials, SRMs 2977 and 2978, are freeze-dried tissue homogenates prepared from mussels collected in Guanabara Bay, Brazil and Raritan Bay, New Jersey, respectively. All three new mussel tissue SRMs complement the current suite of marine natural-matrix SRMs available from NIST that are characterized for a wide range of contaminants (organic and inorganic). SRM 1974b has been developed to replace its predecessor SRM 1974a, Organics in Mussel Tissue, for which the supply is depleted. Similarly, SRMs 2977 and 2978 were developed to replace a previously available (supply depleted) freeze-dried version of SRM 1974a, SRM 2974, Organics in Freeze-Dried Mussel Tissue. SRM 1974b is the third in a series of fresh frozen mussel tissue homogenate SRMs prepared from mussels collected in Boston Harbor starting in 1988. SRM 1974b has certified concentration values for 22 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 31 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), and 7 chlorinated pesticides. Reference values are provided for additional constituents: 16 PAHs, 8 PCBs plus total PCBs, 6 pesticides, total extractable organics, methylmercury, and 11 trace elements. PAH concentrations range from about 2 ng g^–1 dry mass (cyclopenta[cd]pyrene) to 180 ng g^–1 dry mass (pyrene). PCB concentrations range from about 2 ng g^–1 dry mass (PCB 157) to 120 ng g^–1 dry mass (PCB 153). The reference value for total PCBs in SRM 1974b is (2020 ± 420) ng g^–1 dry mass. Pesticide concentrations range from about 4 ng g^–1 dry mass (4,4-DDT) to 40 ng g^–1 dry mass (4,4-DDE). SRM 2977 has certified values for 14 PAHs, 25 PCB congeners, 7 pesticides, 6 trace elements, and methylmercury. Reference values for 16 additional PAHs and 9 inorganic constituents are provided, and information values are given for 23 additional trace elements. SRM 2978 has certified and reference concentrations for 41 and 22 organic compounds, respectively, and contains contaminant levels similar to those of SRM 1974b. Organic contaminant levels in SRM 2977 (mussels from Guanabara Bay, Brazil) are typically a factor of 2 to 4 lower than those in SRM 1974b and SRM 2978. The organic contaminant concentrations in each new mussel tissue SRM are presented and compared in this paper. In addition, a chronological review of contaminant concentrations associated with mussels collected in Boston Harbor is discussed as well as a stability assessment of SRM 1974a.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . A link in the frame on the left on that page takes you directly to the supplementary material.     

Determination of trace selenium in biological material by preconcentration and x-ray emission spectrometry

Selenium is determined in the ng g^?1 to μg g^?1 range in biological and environmental samples. A wet digestion procedure was optimized with respect to volatility losses and recovery yields, by using ⁷⁵Se metabolically incorporated into rat organs. Selenium is preconcentrated from the digestion liquid by a two-step reduction with 4 M HCl and ascorbic acid. The colloidal selenium formed is adsorbed on activated carbon and filtered on a Nucleopore membrane for measurement by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. Almost complete recovery was obtained, and the detection limit was 20 ng, corresponding to 10 ng g^?1 for a 2-g sample. Biological reference materials were analyzed with satisfactory results, and the accuracy of the method was good.     

Determination of Iodine in Cereal Grains and Standard Reference Materials by Neutron Activation Anaylsis

Abstract

Trace amounts of iodine in thirty-eight cereal grain samples cultivated at different locations in Austria were determined for the first time in this study by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. For the dissolution of cereal grain samples and standard reference materials, two different procedures, alkaline and acidic dissolution, were applied in the presence of an iodine carrier. Rapid and simple dissolution procedure with acidic solution was demonstrated in this study. The analytical values in the cereal grain as well as in the standard reference materials obtained by the different dissolution procedures were in good agreement within one standard deviation. The iodine in cereal grains and the standard reference materials ranged from 0.002 to 0.03 μg g^?-1 and 0.0015 to 0.30 μg g^?-1, respectively. The distribution of relative standard deviation (RSD) for iodine concentration below 0.01 μg g^?-1 were 21% and 24% of all data for the range 1–10% RSD and 11–20% RSD, respectively. The RSD for 0.1 μg g^?1 of iodine concentrations were around 10%     

Determination of sulfur,nickel and vanadium in fuel and residual oils by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The determination of sulfur, nickel and vanadium in fuel and residual oils by wavelength-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry is reported. Calibration is initially established with matrix-matched synthetic standards, and maintained free of instrumental drift by daily normalization to a reference standard. An epoxy-cast reference standard pellet offers mechanical rigidity and chemical stability for at least nine months. Matrix effects of sulfur and carbon are studied and corrected. Results for NBS SRM oils fall within the NBS certified values, with imprecision (% RSD) for S, Ni, and V of 1.1, 1.5 and 1.0%, respectively. Detection limits (3 s.d.) are 20 μg g^?1 for sulfur and 0.8 μg g^?1 for Ni and for V.     

Milk and serum standard reference materials for monitoring organic contaminants in human samples

Four new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) have been developed to assist in the quality assurance of chemical contaminant measurements required for human biomonitoring studies, SRM 1953 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1954 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1957 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Serum, and SRM 1958 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Serum. These materials were developed as part of a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with both agencies contributing data used in the certification of mass fraction values for a wide range of organic contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, chlorinated pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners. The certified mass fractions of the organic contaminants in unfortified samples, SRM 1953 and SRM 1957, ranged from 12 ng/kg to 2200 ng/kg with the exception of 4,4′-DDE in SRM 1953 at 7400 ng/kg with expanded uncertainties generally <14 %. This agreement suggests that there were no significant biases existing among the multiple methods used for analysis.

Determination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in food and beverages

The determination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in food and beverages sold in Turkey was carried out using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 123 samples of selected food and beverages such as fish, meat, offal, egg, cracker, chips, cake, chocolate, vegetable, milk and juice were examined. The highest PFOA concentrations were determined in cow meat (5.15 ng g^?1), cow kidney (5.65 ng g^?1), cow spleen (5.06 ng g^?1) and chicken liver (5.02 ng g^?1). The highest PFOS levels were found in horse mackerel (52.43 ng g^?1), pike-perch (45.87 ng g^?1), sardine (42.83 ng g^?1) and black cod (41.33 ng g^?1). Fish was found to be major source of the PFOS intake, while meat and offal were found to be major sources of the PFOA intake.     

Facile Synthesis of Ge@C Core–Shell Nanocomposites for High‐Performance Lithium Storage in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Herein, we report a facile and “green” synthetic route for the preparation of Ge@C core–shell nanocomposites by using a low‐cost Ge precursor. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed the core–shell nanoarchitecture of the Ge@C nanocomposites, with particle sizes ranging from 60 to 100 nm. Individual Ge nanocrystals were coated by a continuous carbon layer, which had an average thickness of 2 nm. When applied as an anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries, the Ge@C nanocomposites exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 1670 mAh g^?1 and superior rate capability. In particular, Ge@C nanocomposite electrodes maintained a reversible capacity of 734 mAh g^?1 after repeated cycling at a current density of 800 mA g^?1 over 100 cycles.     

Simultaneous Analysis of Avermectins in Bovine Tissues by LC-MS-MS with Immunoaffinity Chromatography Cleanup

A rapid, simple and sensitive LC-MS-MS method was developed to simultaneously measure residues of avermectin, ivermectin, doramectin, and eprinomectin in bovine liver and muscle. The extracted samples were cleaned by an immunoaffinity column which was prepared by coupling anti-avermectin polyclonal antibodies with CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The residues eluted from the column were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Recoveries fortified at levels 5?50 ng g^?1 ranged from 62.93 to 84.03%, with relative standard deviations from 6.02 to 17.39% for all four compounds in liver tissue. The limits of quantification were 5 ng g^?1, and limits of detection were 2.5 ng g^?1 in liver for the four drugs. The procedure was also applied to bovine muscle, giving similar results.     

Ionic alkyl-lead,tetra-alkyl-lead and total lead in fish from the Great Lakes

Fillets from a variety of fish species collected from Lakes Ontario, Superior and Erie, Canada, were examined for ionic alkyl-lead, tetra-alkyl-lead and total lead compounds. Diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone)-derivatized extracts were collected at pH 8 and 9 for ionic alkyl-leads from enzymatically hydrolyzed samples. Butylated derivatives were formed prior to analysis by gas chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometry (GC AA). Tetra-alkyl-lead was extracted from the hydrolyzates with hexane. Most of the fillets contained low (<0.08–2 ng g^?1) levels of trimethyl-lead. Several samples contained triethyl-lead or tetraethyl-lead. Dimethyl-lead, diethyl-lead and tetramethyl-lead were detected by GC MS but were below the GC AA method detection limit of 0.06 ng g^?1, 0.09 ng g^?1 and 0.2 ng g^?1 respectively. Total lead levels were between <1.8 and 96.7 ng g^?1.     

Determination of bismuth in atmospheric particulate matter by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectrometry

The particulates are collected on Whatman 41 cellulose filters and decomposed with sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide; bismuth is then measured by hydride generation/atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limis is 0.08 ng m^?3 if 500 m³ of air is filtered through an 11-cm filter. Generally, the precision is better than 10%. The concentrations found in Ghent, Belgium varied between 0.1 and 0.8 ng m^?3. Bismuth was also determined in NBS Orchard leaves (SRM 1571); a value of 98.5 ± 15 ng g^?1 was found.