MULTIVARIATE DATA-ANALYSIS OF TRACE-ELEMENT CONTENT IN ANIMAL ORGANS MEASURED BY SIMULTANEOUS ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

The simultaneous determination of trace elements in animal organs offe rs improved possibilities to characterize the geographical origin of t he animal by analyzing its pollution characteristics. Pb, Cd, Ni (GF-A AS) and Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn (F-AAS) in kidneys and livers of cows from diff erent sites have been measured using simultaneous AAS. The correct all ocation of cows to specific regions shows that multivariate data analy sis provides efficient tools for the geographical classification. The consideration of absorbance rather than concentration as the data inpu t simplified the analytical procedures by omitting the calibration ste p.