Samples were analysed before and af

Samples were analysed before and after fat removal. Table 2
shows that the results obtained for defatted samples does not
always coincide with those obtained directly, probably due to the
interference of fat during the pyrolysis process that directly affects
the results. These differences were, in some cases, up to three times
the concentration found for defatted samples and because of that a
previous treatment of sample with chloroform and methanol was
mandatory to obtain accurate and precise results. Additionally, the
defatting process avoid the smoking of the measurement cells with
the fumes. Assays made on the nut fat evidenced the absence of Hg
in this part of the samples (results not shown).