A Detailed Study of Lead Determinations in Air-Borne Particulates over Morton Grove, Illinois by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

Careful examination of an analytical method for the determination of lead concentrations in atmospheric particulates has confirmed that a low temperature ashing technique is preferable to the ashing of organic matter in a muffle furnace when preparing samples for metals analysis, and that use of the standard additions technique for the avoidance of interferences in the analyses by atomic absorption spectroscopy is justified. Analyses of some 600 samples collected from the air over Morton Grove, Illinois from 1964 through 1967 have revealed average suspended particulate concentrations but rather high lead concentrations for urban areas. Monthly mean lead contents, which were highest in the fall months, showed a gradual increase over the four years.

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

“…Atomic Absorption Interferences. Our spike recovery data of 93% with 9% RSD do not support the large interferences found by Burnham et al (3) on the 283.3-nm line with their Illinois samples. The agreement of our atomic absorption and optical emission data (obtained with the 220.4-nm line) in general and the spike recovery data in particular proves that no significant atomic absorption interferences occurred with these samples from widely distributed sites across the United States.…”

Dry ashing of airborne particulate matter on paper and glass fiber filters for trace metal analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry

“…The determination of trace metals in particulate matter by atomic absorption spectrometry (aas) (Morgan and Homan, 1967;West, 1968) usually involves the initial destruction of organic matter in the sample followed by acid dissolution of residues. Dry ashing at high temperatures, as a method of oxidizing organic matter on glass filters, has been ruled out by some investigators (Burnham et al, 1969(Burnham et al, , 1970; Kneip et al, 1970;Morgan and Homan, 1967) because of the observed losses of low-melting metals. The most frequent explanation offered for these losses has been the volatilization of metals at high temperatures.…”

Trace Metals in Atmospheric Particulates and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

“…In recent years, atomic absorption spectrometry has been used in the analysis of trace metals in atmo- spheric particulates (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Chief reasons for this trend include less sample preparation, selectivity, sensitivity, and relatively simple operating techniques.…”