Multielement determination of trace metals in scallop tissue samples

Abstract

A multielement determination method for trace elements in scallop tissue samples has been developed by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry) after microwave assisted acid digestion. A reference material of oyster tissue (SRM 1566b Oyster tissue) was analysed to verify the determination method. Thirty elements (K, Na, Zn, Mg, Ca, Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Ba, Sr, Cd, Ni, Co, Pb, Y, and rare earth elements) in the reference material could be determined, and the concentrations of elements obtained by this method were in good agreement with their certified and reference values and had good precision within RSD 4% except for Ni and Pb. This method was applied to analyse concentrations of elements in a scallop tissue sample. Cadmium, Zn, Cu, Al, and Fe in the scallop tissue sample were contained at 69.0, 148, 19.0, 415, and 221 mg g-1 level, respectively. In particular, the bioaccumulation factors of Cd, which were estimated between the concentration in scallop tissue sample and those in shale and seawater, were the highest among 30 elements determined.