A comparative determination of heavy metals in moss tissue by atomic absorption spectroscopy, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry, direct current plasma spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

Abstract

Heavy metal contents of mosses are usually determined routinely for pollution studies, by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results obtained from a such study are here compared with levels obtained from a comparative determination of the metals in the mosses by three other techniques: Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV), Direct current plasma (atomic emission) spectroscopy (DCPS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The levels of Pb, Cu and Cd determined by DPASV did not differ significantly from those obtained from AAS. Metal levels from DCPS analyses tended to be significantly higher than the AAS values. Although the XRF values were slightly higher than those of AAS for Pb and Zn, the differences were statistically insignificant. The implication of these trends in comparing the extents of pollution in different regions, is highlighted.