The efficiency of the SnCl2 as reductant for mercury cold vapor generation from gasoline solutions was also tested. However, only the standard solution with a mercury concentration of 6.0 μg L− 1, presented signal comparable with those obtained by using NaBH4. The absorbance values for the two gasoline solutions were very low for SnCl2 concentrations up to 5.0% m/v, in the 10% v/v HCl medium. More concentrated SnCl2 solutions were not tested in order to avoid memory effects. Better repeatability and sensitivity were obtained with NaBH4, which was chosen for all further determinations.