Mercury (Hg) is one of several wide-spread environmental toxins capable of causing a variety of negative health effects in humans. Because of its potential neurotoxic effect on children, chronic low-dose mercury exposure has become an increasing concern and dust ingestion during childhood is regarded as a key means of exposure to metals and metalloids (including mercury) that are derived from vehicular traffic and numerous industrial sources.
Soil and dust often become the primary resting places for these toxins through atmospheric deposition. Urban inhabitants in particular have a higher rate of exposure to contaminated dust by inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact.
This application note will demonstrate the ability of the Teledyne Leeman Labs Hydra IIC Mercury Analyzer to determine total elemental mercury (Hg0) in National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2584 - Trace Elements in House Dust using EPA Method 7473. EPA Method 7473 is approved for both laboratory and field analysis for mercury in solids and solutions using Thermal Decomposition, Amalgamation and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy.