AN IMPROVED IMPACTION-GRAPHITE FURNACE SYSTEM FOR THE DIRECT AND NEARREAL-TIME DETERMINATION OF CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, LEAD AND MANGANESE IN AEROSOLS AND CIGARETTE-SMOKE BY SIMULTANEOUS MULTIELEMENT ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

The design, operating characteristics, and preliminary evaluation of a n improved impaction-graphite furnace system, based on a theoretical s tudy of particle size collected, are presented. After direct collectio n, the graphite furnace from the system is inserted in an atomic absor ption spectrometer for analysis by simultaneous multielement atomic ab sorption spectrometry. This system has the potential for the direct an d near real-time (few minutes) determination of metals in aerosols. Th e system has been preliminarily evaluated using aqueous solutions of c hromium, and has then been applied to the determination of cadmium, ch romium, lead, and manganese in cigarette smoke. Results show an increa se ranging from almost five (lead) to sixteen (cadmium) over backgroun d levels.