DETERMINATION OF BISMUTH DOWN TO SUB PG G LEVEL IN GREENLAND SNOW BY LASER-EXCITED ATOMIC FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETRY/

We present here preliminary data on the first direct determination of Bi in Greenland recent snow down to the sub pg/g level by Laser Excite d Atomic Fluorescence (LEAF) spectrometry in clean room conditions. Ca libration of the spectrometer was achieved using ultralow concentratio n Bi standards (concentration range 0.05 - 50 pg/g). The limit of dete ction was found to be 2.5 fg Bi. Various Greenland samples were analys ed, giving Bi concentration values in good agreement with these antici pated from the available volcanic emissions data.