Two field methods for Hg, immunoassay and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV
), that can provide onsite results for quick decisions at hazardous waste s
ites were evaluated. Each method was applied to samples from two Superfund
sites that contain high levels of Hg; Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine site, Clear
Lake, California, and Carson River Mercury site, Nevada. Two laboratory me
thods were used for comparison purposes; cold vapor atomic fluorescence spe
ctrometry (CVAFS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
. The immunoassay was found to be accurate for high and low Hg concentratio
ns compared to the 5 and 15 mug/g soil sample standards provided with it. D
espite poor agreement between immunoassay and confirmatory analysis results
at concentrations near the comparison standards, the immunoassay could be
used as an effective screening method provided care is taken in identifying
an operational screening level. The ASV method had an analytical range of
1-50 mug/g, with a CV of 15%. ASV results were comparable to CVAFS (CV = 15
%) and more precise than ICP-MS (CV = 20%). The lower limit of quantitative
results was 3 mug/g for field samples, and is attributed to uncertainty as
sociated with sampling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.