Determination of Microamounts of Lead Cadmium Mercury and Arsenic in Honeysuckle

Four harmful elements (Pb,Cd,Hg and As) of microamounts in honeysuckle were determined by GFAAS (for Pb and Cd) and by AFS (for Hg and As).Working conditions of the instruments were given.Data of standard curves of the 4 elements (including linear regression equations,correlation coefficients,ranges of linearity and detection limits) were deseribed in detail.Recovery was tested by adding standard solutions of Pb,Cd,Hg and As to a sample of honeysuckle,and the average values of recovery (n=6) found were 94.2%,97.2%,107.2% and 91.5% respectively.Precision was tested with standard solutions of the 4 elements,and values of RSD′s (n=6) found were less than 3%.Honeysuckle samples grown in 3 different areas in China were taken and analyzed by the proposed method,and amounts of the 4 elements found in these samples were all lower than the limit of allowance.