Determination of arsenic species in water, soils and plants

ion chromatographic separation coupled with ICP-MS was used to determine ar senic species in plant and soil extracts. A scheme for growth, harvesting, sample pre-treatment and analysis was developed for the arsenic species to enable determination. Preliminary results obtained with ten herb plants gro wn on arsenic-contaminated soil compared to non-contaminated soil show a he terogeneous pattern of accumulation rate, metabolization and detoxification mechanisms in monocots and dicots. Arsenite appears to be the major compon ent in plants with good growth. Organic arsenic species were even detected at very low concentrations (< 150 mu g kg(-1) (dry mass)).