ASTM D2972-08

Herbicides, insecticides, and many industrial effluents contain arsenic and are potential sources of water pollution. Arsenic is significant because of its adverse physiological effects on humans.

1.1 These test methods cover the photometric and atomic absorption determination of arsenic in most waters and wastewaters. Three test methods are given as follows:

1.2 The analyst should direct attention to the precision and bias statements for each test method. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of these test methods for waters of untested matrices.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Note 1 and Note 6.

7.1 This test method covers the determination of dissolved and total recoverable arsenic in most waters and waste waters in the range from 5 to 250 μg/L of arsenic.

7.2 The precision and bias data were obtained on reagent water, river water, and process water. The information on precision and bias may not apply to other waters. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.

17.1 This test method covers the determination of dissolved and total recoverable arsenic in most waters and wastewaters in the range from 1 to 20 μg/L of arsenic. The range may be extended by dilution of the sample.

17.2 The precision and bias data were obtained on reagent water, tap water, salt water, river water, and untreated wastewater. The information on precision and bias may not apply to other waters. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of this test method for waters of untested matrices.

27.1 This test method covers the determination of dissolved and total recoverable arsenic in most waters and wastewaters.

27.2 This test method is applicable in the range from 5 to 100 μg/L of arsenic using a 20-μL injection. The range can be increased or decreased by varying the volume of sample injected or the instrumental settings. High concentrations may be diluted but preferably should be analyzed by the atomic absorption-hydride method.

27.3 This test method has been used successfully with reagent water, lake water, river water, well water, filtered well water, and condensate from a medium Btu coal gasification process. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the validity of the test method to other matrices.

27.4 The analyst is encouraged to consult Practice D 3919 for a general discussion of interferences and sample analysis procedures for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

ASTM Standards:

D 1129 Terminology Relating to Water

D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water

D 2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water

D 3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits

D 3919 Practice for Measuring Trace Elements in Water by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

D 4841 Practice for Estimation of Holding Time for Water Samples Containing Organic and Inorganic Constituents

D 5810 Guide for Spiking into Aqueous Samples

D 5847 Practice for Writing Quality Control Specifications for Standard Test Methods for Water Analysis

E 60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials by Molecular Absorption Spectrometry

E 275 Practice for Describing and Measuring Performance of Ultraviolet, Visible, and Near-Infrared Spectrophotometers