The determination of mercury species in environmental and biological samples (Technical report)

Mercury is released into the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere as a con sequence of natural and anthropogenic processes. It is cycled in the enviro nment and undergoes transformations of its chemical forms. Although the num ber of chemical species encountered in environmental and biological samples is not large, the range of matrices and the toxicological significance of mercury, with a consequent need for ultra-trace determination, have resulte d in a considerable analytical literature. Sensitive and selective methods for mercury determination, micro methods for the determination of mercury s pecies, the occurrence of mercury species in the various environmental comp artments, and analytical considerations, including the availability of cert ified reference materials, are reviewed.