Atomic absorption and optical emission analysis of NASN atmospheric particulate samples for lead

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es60120a011· OSTI ID:7227995

Scott, D R; Hemphill, D C; Holboke, L E; Long, S J; Loseke, W A; Pranger, L J; Thompson, R J

Lead analyses were performed on 945 quarterly composited particulate samples collected in 1970 by the National Air Surveillance Network by atomic absorption and spark excited optical emission spectroscopy. Duplicate analyses by atomic absorption (283.3-nm line) of 203 samples gave a pooled precision of 3.4 percent, RSD, with a detection limit of 0.50 ..mu..g/ml (0.10 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/). Duplicate optical emission (220.4-nm line) analyses of 800 samples gave a pooled precision of 11 percent, RSD, with a 9.6-..mu..g/ml (0.15 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/) detection limit. Spike recovery data were 93 +- 9 percent for atomic absorption and 102 +- 8 percent for optical emission data. Analysis of different portions of the same filters gave no significant difference by either method. The lead blank value for glass fiber filters was approximately 1 ..mu..g/in./sup 2/. For 795 samples run by both methods, the most frequently occurring difference in concentration was 8 percent which was statistically significant at the 99 percent confidence level. The emission data were higher than the atomic absorption data. No evidence was found for interferences on the 283.3-nm atomic absorption line. Times required for sample preparation and analysis were 1.2 to 1.4 man-hours per sample.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 7227995
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 10:9; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COLLOIDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
INFORMATION
LEAD
METALS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SENSITIVITY
SOLS
SPECTROSCOPY