Determination of trace metals in estuarine and sea-water reference materials by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

A rapid method for the determination of 15 trace metals in saline mater samples: by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-TCP-MS) was tested. The method was validated by the analysis of estuarine (SLEW-2), coastal (CASS-2) and open ocean (NASS-4) water certified reference materials, No sample-pre-treatment other than acidification and dilution mas carried out, Results in good agreement with certified values (where available) were obtained for all metals except for Cd and Zn, Discrepancies for these elements are explained by an unresolved MoO interference (Cd) and insufficient internal standard correction (Zn). Present data indicate that HR-ICP-MS is applicable to the rapid and accurate multi-element determination, virtually free from spectral interferences, of trace metals at pg ml(-1) levels in saline water.