Gas chromatographic-atmospheric pressure active nitrogen method for organomercury speciation in environmental samples.

Methods are presented for the determination of methylmercury in fish, water, urine, and sediments, and diorganomercury compounds in water. Two significant differences from previous methods are the use of methylene chloride extracting solvent which permits sample extracts to be concentrated to volumes as low as 0.1 mL, and use of a gas chromatograph interfaced to an atmospheric pressure active nitrogen (APAN) afterflow detector. Such a detector is very sensitive and selective for Hg at picogram levels. Thus, limits of detection were significantly enhanced.