Validation of a hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry methodology for determination of mercury in fish designed for application in the Brazilian national residue control plan

Abstract

In the present study, a method for the determination of mercury (Hg) in fish was validated according to ISO/IEC 17025, INMETRO (Brazil), and more recent European recommendations (Commission Decision 2007/333/EC and 2002/657/EC) for implementation in the Brazilian Residue Control Plan (NRCP) in routine applications. The parameters evaluated in the validation were investigated in detail. The results obtained for limit of detection and quantification were respectively, 2.36 and 7.88 μg kg⁻¹ of Hg. While the recovery varies between 90–96%. The coefficient of variation was of 4.06–8.94% for the repeatability. Furthermore, a comparison using an external proficiency testing scheme was realized. The results of method validated for the determination of the mercury in fish by Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry were considered suitable for implementation in routine analysis.

Keywords:

• Validation
• mercury
• fish
• hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

Acknowledgment

The I.C.F. Damin is grateful to Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq – Process number 384009/2009-3), for scholarships supply. The authors are also grateful to Fábio Henrique Weiler and Nara Regina Atz for his careful experimental work.