Comparison of two different analytical procedures for determination of total mercury in wet deposition samples

Abstract

Comparison studies have been performed on determination of total mercury in wet deposition by two analytical methods. The studies were carried out in the period of March to November 2009 at the sampling point located near intensive traffic in Southern Poland (Zabrze). The difference between these two methods consisted in preparation of samples for analysis and in the type of measuring device. In both cases, the method of cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) after reduction of SnCl2 was used by means of a mercury analyzer model MA-2 produced by Nippon Instruments Corp. or of a mercury analyzer RA-915+ produced by LUMEX. Good agreement of the results have been obtained (relative error of the determination between the methods varied from 18% to 40%). Both analytical methods can be considered equivalent and used as a reference to each other. Quantity assessment of mercury wet deposition in southern Poland is lower than in 90 s, but still much higher in comparison with other countries in Europe and worldwide (ca. 30 μg·m –2 ·year –1 .