Mobility of important toxic analytes in urban dust and simulated air filters determined by sequential extraction and GFAAS/ICP-OES methods

The modified BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure has been applied to homogenized urban dust samples and to simulated air filters loaded with the prepared urban dust via the wet deposition procedure. This work has been focused on comparative study of the distribution of trace elements in both samples and evaluation of the factors influencing the reliability of results with respect to the proposed extraction procedure. Extracted chemical fractions were analyzed by ICP-OES and GFAAS depending on the concentration levels of investigated trace elements As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Pb, selected according to their adverse effect on the human health. Statistically evaluated results indicate significant differences between the extracted portions of analytes in urban dust and simulated air filters, where the mobility of some analytes in simulated air filters was higher than that in urban dust samples. The impact of surfactant Triton X-100 (0.05 vol. %) on the extraction procedure was also investigated. Presented at the XVIIIth Slovak Spectroscopic Conference, Spišská Nová Ves, 15–18 October 2006.