Lead and Zinc in Lichens and Botanic Samples by Electrothermal and Flame Atomic Absorption

Within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Analytical Quality Control Service (AQCS) Chemistry Unit a research program was initiated for the identication of trace elements such as Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn in IAEA lichen-338 for a prociency test (PT). This was to evaluate the possibility of using lichens as biomonitors of trace elements in atmospheric pollution. Pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, atomization and background proles, detection limits and characteristic masses of analytes in lichen samples with Ni, Ni + Pd and Ni + Pd + tartaric acid (TA) modier mixture, and without any modiers were comprehensively investigated by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The detection limits and characteristic masses of analyte