MH-ICP-MS Analysis of the Freshwater and Saltwater Environmental Resources of Upolu Island, Samoa

Abstract

The elemental composition of freshwater and saltwater samples around the South Pacificisland of Upolu, Samoa has been investigated together with other indicators of water quality. Up to 69elements from Li (3) to U (92) are measured in each sample, analyzed by Mattauch–Herzog-inductivelycoupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MH-ICP-MS). One hundred and seventy-six samples werecollected from surface freshwater sources (24 rivers, two volcanic lakes, one dam) and from seawatersources from the surface to 30 m depth (45 inner reef, reef, and outer reef locations) around UpoluIsland, including river mouths and estuaries.