Determination of arsenic residues in agricultural products of Milos island

Abstract

A geothermal plant was shut down and part of the agricultural production was destroyed in 1989 on the island of Milos following the claims of a private laboratory about arsenic residues in olive oil samples. Analysis by two methods of the same olive oil and fruit and vegetables of the island showed no residues of arsenic. The silver diethyldithiocarbamate method was applied for olive oil, with a limit of determination of 0.02 μ g −1. The recovery of arsenic was 86–98% at 0.025-0.1 μ g −1 fortification levels.