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, HC1, H^SO^, 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 simplicity 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 within 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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