Trace metals in aerosol at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica (original) (raw)

2005, Journal of Environmental Monitoring

were determined by inductively coupled sector field mass spectroscopy (ICP-SFMS) after sample digestion by a combination of HF, HNO 3 , and H 2 O 2 in ultraclean conditions. Quality control of the analytical procedure was carried out by blank control, by evaluating the limits of detection, recoveries and repeatability. Concentrations found are extremely low for most metals, confirming the high purity of Antarctic aerosol. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlights high correlations among Pb, Cr, Bi, Cu and Zn concentration values and among Li, U, Ba, Cs, Rb, Al, V, Fe, Mn, Co concentration values permitting the identification of two principal source groups, namely crustal dust and human emission activities. Elements of anthropogenic origins (Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn) were highly enriched with respect to their crustal composition.