Observations on Arsenic and Selenium Determinations Using Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption and/or Plasma Emission Spectrometry

Regulatory and environmental concerns have made the determination of trace amounts of arsenic and selenium extremely important. Selenium is an essential trace nutrient while arsenic is a cumulative poison. Unlike synthetic organic chemicals, these “heavy metals,” of course, are not man-made. Environmental pollution problems associated with these elements, therefore, are the result of redistribution of naturally occurring elements by agricultural and industrial processes.