Determination of selenium in fish flesh by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry

Selenium was determined in freeze-dried fish flesh from perch, pike-perch and the fish flesh reference materials MA-A-2 No. 1174 and MA-B-3 No. 151 (both from the International Atomic Energy Agency) by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. Four different decomposition procedures were tested. They yielded consistent results for the four specimens, but the certified concentration level of selenium in the reference material MA-A-2 was not reached. This indicated losses or the presence of very stable selenium-containing compounds in this fish flesh. Neutron activation analysis of the reference material, however, was in agreement with those results obtained.