Comparison of AFS and ICP-MS detection coupled with gas chromatography for the determination of methylmercury in marine samples

Abstract Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) coupled with gas chromatography (GC) have been evaluated as element specific detectors for the determination of methylmercury in marine samples. Detection limits for methylmercury chloride, obtained using ICP-MS and AFS, were 0.9 and 0.25 pg as Hg, respectively. Methylmercury was determined in marine tissue reference materials IAEA 142 and NIST 8044 mussel homogenate, and DOLT-2 dogfish liver by GC–AFS, with found values of 45±7, 26±4, and 671±41 ng g −1 , compared with certified values of 47±4, 28±2, and 693±53 ng g −1 . The analyses of IAEA 142 and NIST 8044 were repeated using GC–ICP-MS, with found values of 48±9 and 30±3 ng g −1 , respectively. Methylmercury was determined in real samples of ringed seal and beluga whale, with found values of 801±62 and 2830±113 ng g −1 , respectively.

[1]  S. Rapsomanikis,et al.  Speciation of mercury and methylmercury compounds in aqueous samples by chromatography-atomic absorption spectrometry after ethylation with sodium tetraethylborate , 1991 .

[2]  K. Tsuchiya.  The discovery of the causal agent of Minamata disease. , 1992, American journal of industrial medicine.

[3]  S. Hill,et al.  Communications. Construction of a capillary gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry transfer line and application of the technique to the analysis of alkyllead species in fuel , 1992 .

[4]  R. Cela,et al.  Evaluation of capillary columns used in the routine determination of methylmercury in biological and environmental materials , 1992 .

[5]  S. Chiavarini,et al.  GC-ECD determination of methylmercury in sediment samples using a SPB-608 capillary column after alkaline digestion , 1997 .

[6]  G. Westöö,et al.  Determination of methylmercury compounds in foodstuffs. I. Methylmercury compounds in fish, identification and determination. , 1966, Acta chemica Scandinavica.

[7]  T. Hobo,et al.  Direct GC determination of methylmercury chloride on HBr-methanol-treated capillary columns , 1997 .

[8]  Paul J. Worsfold,et al.  Determination of mercury species in sea-water by liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric detection , 1996 .

[9]  P. Coyle,et al.  Automated determination of mercury in urine and blood by the Magos reagent and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. , 1981, Analytical chemistry.

[10]  S. Wise,et al.  Development, validation, and application of a method for quantification of methylmercury in biological marine materials using gas chromatography atomic emission detection. , 1996, Analytical chemistry.

[11]  L Magos,et al.  Selective atomic-absorption determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in undigested biological samples. , 1971, The Analyst.

[12]  K C Thompson,et al.  The atomic-fluorescence determination of mercury by the cold vapour technique. , 1971, The Analyst.

[13]  L. Ehrenberg,et al.  Determination of methylmercury compounds in foodstuffs. II. Determination of methylmercury in fish, egg, meat, and liver. , 1967, Acta chemica Scandinavica.

[14]  F. Oehme.  Toxicity of heavy metals in the environment , 1978 .

[15]  S. Rowland,et al.  Analysis of geoporphyrins by high-temperature gas chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Plenary lecture , 1994 .