PNNL

Abstract

A low-cost, extremely sensitive means to measure heavy metals in urine and water samples using a field-portable instrument has been developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The system is approximately the size of a lunch box, weighs approximately 12 pounds and its components cost in the range of $12,000 to $15,000. Sensitivities below 1 ppb in rat urine and river water with low relative standard deviations have been achieved within a few minutes using the system. The system has been bench marked against ICP/MS (the gold standard measurement technique for heavy metals) and has consistently demonstrated comparable performance for detection of heavy metals in urine and water. While the retail cost of the new instrument is not yet known, it will certainly be less than the typical $100,000 to $150,000 of an ICP/MS.