ARSENIC CONTENT OF SPANISH COWS MILK DETERMINED BY DRY ASHING HYDRIDEGENERATION ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

The arsenic content of cows' milk consumed in Spain was determined. A procedure using dry ashing hydride generation atomic absorption spectr ometry was developed for the purpose. Experimental conditions for the destruction of organic matter were established and an interference stu dy was carried out. The method developed has a detection limit of 0.1. ng/g, a relative SD of 5%, and a recovery (mean +/- CSI) of 100 +/- 4 %. The accuracy of the method was checked by analysis of a certified s ample of IAEA milk powder (mean +/- CSI: certified, 4.85 +/- 0.32 ng/g ; found, 5.04 +/- 0.81 ng/g). The proposed procedure was used to analy se cows: milk samples. The extremely low arsenic levels found do not p resent toxicological problems.