The Determination of Mercury by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption

Abstract

Mercury contamination of the environment and its toxic effects have been known for centuries. The novel “Alice in Wonderland” refers to “mad hatters” who were hat makers gone “mad” due to exposure to mercury used in cleaning felt hats. In 1810, a British man-of-war salvaged 130 tons of mercury from a Spanish wreck off Cadiz. Parchment bags had been used to confine the mercury within wooden barrels, but owing to the sodden condition of the bags after salvage and the prevailing heat, mercury vapor very quickly diffused throughout the man-of-war. Almost everyone on board soon showed signs of mercury poisoning, several members of the crew died, and the ship’s livestock was wiped out [1].