PRESERVATION OF TRACE-METALS IN WATER SAMPLES

Questions about trace metal preservation are resurfacing because the h ealth effect risks associated with certain metals continue to drive th e required reporting limits lower. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spe ctrometry was used in this study to analyze preservation of samples co ntaining trace metals. Metal concentrations in nonacidified drinking w aters may decrease if the sample is held for two weeks. Acidification of these drinking water samples resolubilized the metals that had fall en out of solution. The preservation of metal samples within drinking waters by acidification to a pH of <2 effectively stabilized the metal concentration for 180 days.