Abstract: Three atomic spectrometry techniques, namely sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (ICP-SMS, GF-AAS and HG-AFS, respectively), housed at separate independent laboratories, were used to analyze water and sediment samples collected from the Huon River Estuary, SE Tasmania (Australia) in the Austral spring 1998. A dithiocarbamate-chelation/back-extraction technique was used to separate and pre-concentrate Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb from eight collected water samples prior to analysis by ICP-SMS and GF-MS. A number of other elements in the waters were analyzed directly (Mn, Fe and Zn by GF-AAS; As by HG-AFS), or following sample dilution (1 + 19; V, Mn, Fe, As, Mo, Ba and U by ICP-SMS). Where: possible, previously corroborated GF-AAS and HG-AFS techniques were used to verify obtained ICP-SMS results. From the analysis of four reference waters (SLEW-1 and -2, SLRS-3 and NASS-5), good agreement, to within±10-20%, was typically found between certified (or information only values) and measured results (irrespective of analytical technique). Exceptions included Zn (and sometimes Fe) that could not be quantified by ICP-SMS due to elevated blank signals, and As which was found to lie below ICP-SMS detection limits. For Huon Estuary water samples, inter-method agreement was within±10-20% (for those elements amenable to analysis by more than one technique). Nitric acid extracts of two certified reference materials (Buffalo River Sediment and BCSS-1) and six Huon Estuary sediments were analyzed by ICP-SMS (for Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) and HG-AFS (for As). Results from the certified reference materials indicated extraction efficiencies of 60 70% (for most elements). A close correlation between ICP-SMS and HG-AFS was obtained for leachable As in the sediments. In terms of potential inorganic contaminants, the Huon Estuary was found to be a relatively clean water system. The elemental concentrations measured in water and sediment samples from this region were found to lie within current Australian guidelines for estuaries. In general, no one analytical technique was able to accurately determine all elements in all samples from this relatively pristine estuarine environment, A combination of all three analytical techniques was necessary for the successful analysis of the elements considered in this study.

Abstract: High resolution ICP-MS was used to determine the concentrations of Al, Sc, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Pb and Bi in snow and ice from Antarctica. To overcome some potentially problematic spectral interferences, measurements were acquired in both low and medium resolution modes. Small sample volumes were analyzed using a microconcentric nebulizer. After rigorous instrument cleaning and sample preparation, detection levels in the low and sub-pg g-1 range (0.3-48 pg g-1) were found for all elements. Concentration. values were determined for a continental snow, sea ice snow and a representative ice core. Concentration. ranges for all snow samples (n = 25) were (in pg g-1): Al (30-2000), V (2-16), Mn (2-30) and Fe (30-1500), while Sc and Co were typically below detection or blank limits. The ice core sample had Al, Mn, Fe and Pb concentrations of 90, 7, 110 and 1 pg g-1, respectively, while Sc, V, Co and Bi could not be quantified (below detection or blank limits). The reliability of the analytical method for Fe was confirmed by flow injection analysis with spectrophotometric detection.