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MERCURY, LEAD, ARSENIC, AND CADMIUM IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE. THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS
Citation:
Beckert, W. MERCURY, LEAD, ARSENIC, AND CADMIUM IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE. THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE STANDARD REFERENCE MATERIALS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/4-78/051 (NTIS PB288198).
Description:
The present situation of standard reference materials consisting of plant and animal tissues is examined. A brief literature review presents a cross-section of published data on the incorporation of mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium into plant and animal tissues. It points out the wide concentration ranges of these elements that are encountered in biological tissue samples under environmental and experimental conditions. These concentration ranges are compared with the individual values of the corresponding elements as determined for the biological standard reference materials presently available from the National Bureau of Standards. The conclusion is reached that there is a need for the preparation of additional biological reference materials encompassing wide concentration ranges of the elements of interest. The parameters of importance for the cost-effective preparation of biological tissue reference materials are discussed. Some plant and animal species are identified which could advantageously be used to prepare this kind of reference material. In an appendix, the concentrations of mercury in plant and animal tissue samples, as presented in the literature, are listed.