Determination of As in tree-rings of poplar (Populus alba L.) by U-shaped DC arc

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2009-04, Vol.151 (1-4), p.377-382
• Main Authors: MARKOVIC, D. M, NOVOVIC, I, VILOTIC, D, IGNJATOVIC, Lj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air Pollutants - analysis; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atomic absorption spectroscopy; Biological and medical sciences; Coal; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Electrochemistry - instrumentation; Electrochemistry - methods; Emissions; Environment; Environmental indicators; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Fly ash; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; growth rings; Heavy metals; Humans; Industrial plant emissions; Methods; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Pollutants; Pollution; Poplar (Populus alba L.); Populus - anatomy & histology; Populus - chemistry; Populus alba; Power plants; Scientific imaging; Serbia; Spectral analysis; Spectrometry; Studies; Trace elements; Trees; Urban areas; Vessel
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-008-0279-5

An argon-stabilized U-shaped DC arc with a system for aerosol introduction was used for determination of As in poplar (Populus alba L.) tree-rings. After optimization of the operating parameters and selection of the most appropriate signal integration time (30 s), the limit of detection for As was reduced to 15.0 ng/mL. This detection limit obtained with the optimal integration time was compared with those for other methods: inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), direct coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES), microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MIP-AES) and improved thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS). Arsenic is toxic trace element which can adversely affect plant, animal and human health. As an indicator of environment pollution we collected poplar tree-rings from two locations. The first area was close to the “Nikola Tesla” (TENT-A) power plant, Obrenovac, while the other was in the urban area of Novi Sad. In all cases elevated average concentrations of As were registered in poplar tree-rings from the Obrenovac location.