ANALYTICAL QUALITY-CONTROL - SAMPLING PROCEDURES TO DETECT TRACE-METALS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MATRICES

The problem of contamination during the collection of samples of envir onmental interest to detect trace metal is discussed. Attention is foc used on the leaching of metals from sampling devices used to collect s urface and deep seawater. A procedure to test metal release is applied to emphasize the importance of conditioning samplers before use. The procedure for checking the contamination extent and decontamination of firn and ice cores to detect ultratrace elements (particularly Cd and Pb) is presented and applied to some firn cores collected in Antarcti ca during the 1990-1991 Italian expedition.