title: Determination of methylmercury in marine biota samples with advanced mercury analyzer: method validation.
abstract: In this paper, we present a simple, fast and cost-effective method for determination of methyl mercury (MeHg) in marine samples. All important parameters influencing the sample preparation process were investigated and optimized. Full validation of the method was performed in accordance to the ISO-17025 (ISO/IEC, 2005) and Eurachem guidelines. Blanks, selectivity, working range (0.09-3.0ng), recovery (92-108%), intermediate precision (1.7-4.5%), traceability, limit of detection (0.009ng), limit of quantification (0.045ng) and expanded uncertainty (15%, k=2) were assessed. Estimation of the uncertainty contribution of each parameter and the demonstration of traceability of measurement results was provided as well. Furthermore, the selectivity of the method was studied by analyzing the same sample extracts by advanced mercury analyzer (AMA) and gas chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-AFS). Additional validation of the proposed procedure was effectuated by participation in the IAEA-461 worldwide inter-laboratory comparison exercises.
authors.affiliation: International Atomic Energy Agency, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azemard
authors.affiliation: International Atomic Energy Agency, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Environment Laboratories, 4 Quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco. Electronic address: e.vasileva-veleva@iaea.org.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vassileva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005399:Fishes; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D008628:Mercury; C004925:methylmercuric chloride
keywords: Advanced mercury analyzer; Marine biota; Method validation; Methyl mercury; Sample preparation; Traceability; Uncertainty