Multi-element analysis of wild berries from northern Sweden by ICP techniques

In this study, the abundances of 60 chemical elements were determined in be rries of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-i daea) by a combination of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectr ometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma double focusing sector fiel d mass spectrometry (ICP-SMS). Samples of both species were collected at 35 sites in northern Sweden. The sites are related to four zones representing areas affected by different types of human activity as well as an adjacent reference area. Special care was taken to keep sample contamination during sampling and sample preparation as low as possible. Different approaches s uch as use of an internal quality control sample, spike recovery tests and comparison between different analytical techniques, were used to ensure the quality of the results. Variations in element concentrations within indivi dual sampling sites were estimated, based upon in-site duplicate sampling a nd analysis. The contribution from surface contamination to total berry con centrations was assessed by analysis of samples before and after rinsing wi th water. A comparison of the two species showed that, in spite of very sim ilar concentrations for the majority of the elements, the highest Tl, Sr an d Ba values were found in lingonberry while the highest Cl and Re concentra tions were found in blueberry. The highest total concentrations of Ag, As, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Hg, I, Ni, Pb, Sb and Tl were found in berries from mining areas, whereas those of Li, V, Hf, W, Ta and REE were found in the vicinity of high-traffic roads. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.