MULTIELEMENT ANALYSIS AND MERCURY SPECIATION IN ATMOSPHERIC SAMPLES FROM THE TORONTO AREA

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry ((ICP-AES), graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAAS) and gas chromatography with an atomic absorption detector (GC-AAS) were used for the analysis of atmospheric samples collected in the Toronto area of Southern Ontario. Airborne particulate matter and particulate and soluble fractions of snow were analyzed for S, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, P, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni, As, and Hg. Also, determinations of organic Hg compounds in filtered snow were performed. The element concentrations in airborne particulate matter from Toronto were similar in amount to those found in other major cities and were the highest in winter. Regional differences in the chemical composition of snow were shown to be related to industrial density. The majority of elements existed in the highest concentrations in the soluble fraction of snow, except for Al, Fe, and Pb, which were largely present in particulate matter. Differences in the distribution of elements in particulate matter in fresh and old snow were observed and depended on particle size and element. The results demonstrated the usefulness of snow as an indicator of atmospheric pollution.