Direct determination of lead in vostok antarctic ancient ice by laser excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry

Abstract

Concentrations of lead (Pb) have been directly measured by laser excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry down to pg g −1 level in six sections of the 2083 m Vostok deep Antarctic ice core which had previously been mechanically decontaminated. Very small volumes of samples (20μl) were used, and there was no need for any preliminary chemical treatment or preconcentration step. The results are in very good agreement with those previously obtained for these core sections by isotope dilution mass spectrometry.