Conclusions
The VGA 76 Vapor Generation Accessory, in conjunction with
a PSC-55 Autosampler, provides a rapid and sensitive system
for the automated determination of mercury in fish tissue. It
is possible to gain a satisfactory level of precision and accuracy
using nitric acid digestion and simple glassware. The
inter-laboratory exercises and the analysis of commercially
available fish flours suggest that mercury is quantitatively
recovered by our digestion procedure.
Acknowledgements
This work was part of a larger project funded by North West
Water Authority. We are also indebted to the staff of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Laboratory at
Burnham on Crouch for their assistance and advice in the
inter-laboratory calibration.