Bismuth bulk rotating disk electrode applicability for SWASV of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) in undisturbed environmental water and urine samples.

A new methodology involving a simple and fast pretreatment of the samples by microwave-assisted extraction and concentration by N2 stream, followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection, was used for determining the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in atmospheric particulate matter (PM10 fraction). Obtained LOD, 1.0 × 10(-3) ng/m(3), was adequate for the analysis of benzo(a)pyrene in the samples, and BaP recovery from PAH in Fine Dust (PM10-like) certified reference material was nearly quantitative (86%). The validated procedure was applied for analyzing 115 PM10 samples collected at different sampling locations in the low-polluted area of Extremadura (Southwest Spain) during a monitoring campaign carried out in 2011-2012. BaP spatial variations and seasonal variability were investigated as well as the influence of meteorological conditions and different air pollutants concentrations. A normalized protocol for health risk assessment was applied to estimate lifetime cancer risk due to BaP inhalation in the sampling areas, finding that around eight inhabitants per million people may develop lung cancer due to the exposition to BaP in atmospheric particulates emitted by the investigated sources.

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Cd and Pb determination in ambient aerosol samples based on SWASV at a Bi film glassy carbon electrode is described. Extremely acid solutions resulting from sample digestion were directly assayed, with sufficient detection limits for testing the fulfilment of air quality regulations. Accuracy was tested on NIST Standard Reference Materials and real aerosol samples, with good recoveries for Pb comparable to ICP-MS results. Cd was not detected, probably due to the combined effects of low Cd and high interfering Zn and Cu contents. The proposed method provides an attractive alternative to ICP-MS with potential applicability for decentralized analysis.

The bismuth bulk electrode is proposed here for the first time in the rotating configuration (BiB‐RDE) as the electrode of choice for voltammetric analysis of selected heavy metal ions. Optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters was carried out to develop a reliable and convenient method for the determination of Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) by SWASV. Appropriate detection limits were found for environmental monitoring applications in the medium – low µg/L range. The method was validated for Pb(II) determination by certified reference materials. Successful application to the determination of Pb(II) in samples of fortified rainwater and sewage sludge from a steel industry is described.