Alkyllead compounds in surface and potable waters

Abstract

Gas chromatography/atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine specific alkyllead compounds in surface and potable water samples. For the first time ionic alkyllead species were identified in potable waters at very low levels with concentrations up to 4 ng Pb 1^‐1. No tetraalkyllead compounds were found in any of the samples analysed and laboratory studies demonstrated that these species decompose rapidly in aqueous samples to trialkyl lead, the most common form of organic lead in environmental samples.