DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF ICP-MS IN ELBE RIVER RESEARCH

In order to characterize the contamination of the river Elbe and gener ate elemental distribution patterns, up to fifty elements and addition al alkylspecies of Sn, Hg and Pb have been determined in samples of su spended matter and sediment using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) - m ass spectrometry (MS). The analytical results for the elemental concen trations have been compared with, and completed by those of other tech niques such as instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) and ICP-optical emis sion spectrometry (OES). Sources of contamination are identified. The survey revealed groups of elements with similar behavior and groups of characteristic regional element patterns. Isotope ratio measurements have been used to characterize different sources of lead contribution.