Using this elution technique it is possible to extract and analyze large 

 numbers of worms for copper very simply, since only the first extract need be 

 analyzed. The methods and conditions used in this study should not be 

 considered to be the ultimate in elution of metals from marine organisms. It 

 may be possible to use other dilute acids (i.e. HF, HCl, H2S04,etc.) that may 

 be more effective for the elution of other metals from different species. If 

 elution rather than total destruction of the animal matrix is desirable, then a 

 thorough study should be made of the effectiveness of the procedure chosen. 

 Dilute acid elution has several advantages over complete destruction of the 

 sample matrix. The first and most important is the potential for providing 

 lower blanks. The second is the simpUcity involved, which allows processing 

 100 small organisms in approximately 8 contact hours. The worms need not be 

 removed from their respective extraction vials prior to analysis, since they sink 

 to the bottom of the vial and do not interfere with HGA atomic absorption 

 analysis. The samples do not need to be analyzed v^thin any constrained time 

 frame. Some samples have been analyzed repeatedly over a period of several 

 months, and have shown no tendency for a concentration change with respect 

 to Cu. The worms also do not decompose over this period of time, as they 

 appear to be permanently preserved. At this time, we have used this elution 

 technique to analyze over 1000 small marine organisms for Cu. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



We thank Ms. Carol E. Pesch and Mr. Douglas Morgan for providing the test 

 animals for this study, and Dr. P. Rogerson for consultation during the course 

 of this work. 



REFERENCES 



1 . Matsunaga, K., T. Ishida, and T. Oda 1976. Extraction of Mercury from Fish 

 for Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Determination. Anal. Chem. 48:1421. 



2. Pesch, C.E., and D. Morgan. 1977. Influence of Sediment in Copper Toxicity 

 Tests with the Polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata. Submitted for 

 publication to Water Research. 



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