Mercury Monitor for Ambient Air

Abstract

An isotope-shift, Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectrometer has been demonstrated to have sufficient sensitivity to continuously monitor the total mercury content of ambient air. At present, the minimum total mercury concentration detectable with this device is 0.2 microgram per cubic meter of air-one fifth of the proposed federal guideline. This is the first technique which responds to both mercury vapor and mercury in particulates available for continuous monitoring at this concentration.