Determination of metals in plant samples by using a sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer

The capability of pine needles to be used as bioindicators of trace metals in the environment is discussed. Samples were collected around the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, the largest nuclear research center in South America and chosen to be the sampling target area. Results obtained for the elemental content of Th and U in samples collected nearby an uranium facility were, respectively, 0.072 and 0.042 mg kg −1, while the results obtained for the La, Ce and Sm content in a sample collected in the vicinity of an extraction laboratory were, respectively, 0.22, 0.88 and 0.39 mg kg −1. All these values are higher than the ones obtained with a reference sample (La 0.12; Ce 0.19, Th 0.020 and U 0.012 mg kg −1), located far from the target area. Internal standardization was used to compensate the non-spectral interference of the different elements present in the sample solution matrix. The chemical elements bismuth (Bi) and indium (In) were chosen as internal standards. In order to control the accuracy of the chemical measurement process, certified samples of pine needles (NBS SRM 1575) were also analyzed. The results obtained show the capability of the investigated method in the determination of the relevant trace metals in the environment.