Table 2. Analytical methods and the approximate lower limits of determination for the concentration of elements in plants, organic-rich sediments, and water.
Element	ICP-AES		ICP-MS		Element	ICP-AES		ICP-MS
	Plant*	Sediment**	Water			Plant*	Sediment**	Water
Al	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Ho	8ppm	4ppm	0.1ppb
Ca	0.01%	0.005%	NA		La	4ppm	2ppm	0.1ppb
Fe	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Li	4ppm	2ppm	2ppb
Mg	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Mn	8ppm	4ppm	0.5ppb
Na	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Mo	4ppm	2ppm	0.1ppb
P	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Nb	8ppm	4ppm	0.2ppb
Ti	0.01%	0.005%	NA		Nd	8ppm	9ppm	0.2ppb
K	0.10%	0.005%	NA		Ni	4ppm	3ppm	0.5ppb
Ag	4 ppm	2 ppm	4 ppb		Pb	8ppm	4ppm	0.3ppb
As	20 ppm	10 ppm	1 ppb		Sc	4ppm	2ppm	0.8ppb
Au	20 ppm	8 ppm	0.1 ppb		Si	NA	NA	NA
B	NA	NA	NA		Sn	20ppm	5ppm	0.2ppb
Ba	2ppm	1ppm	0.5ppb		Sr	4ppm	2ppm	1.0ppb
Be	2ppm	1ppm	0.1ppb		Ta	80ppm	40ppm	0.1ppb
Bi	20ppm	10ppm	0.7ppb		Th	8ppm	6ppm	1ppb
Cd	4ppm	2ppm	0.2ppm		U	200ppm	100ppm	0.1ppb
Ce	8ppm	5ppm	0.1ppb		V	4ppm	2ppm	0.5ppb
Co	2ppm	2ppm	0.1ppb		W	NA	NA	0.1ppb
Cr	2ppm	2ppm	0.5ppb		Y	4ppm	2ppm	0.8ppb
Cu	2ppm	2ppm	2.0ppb		Yb	2ppm	1ppm	0.7ppb
Eu	4ppm	2ppm	0.1ppb		Zn	4ppm	2ppm	4.0ppb
Ga	8ppm	4ppm	0.3ppb		Zr	NA	NA	0.1ppb
Ge	NA	NA	0.3ppb

Element	Cold Vapor AA
	Plant**	Sediment**	Water
Hg	20ppb	20ppb	0.2ppb

* concentrations are on an ash weight basis; ** concentrations are on a dry weight basis
NA = not applicable (either not determined or data obtained was not used in this study)
% = percent; ppb = parts per billion (µg/L or µg/kg); ppm = parts per million (mg/L or µg/g)