This European Standard specifies a method for the determination of the content of cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead in fertilizers with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after extraction with aqua regia. Limits of quantification are dependent on the sample matrix as well as on the instrument, but can roughly be expected to be 0,3 mg/kg for Cd and 1 mg/kg for Cr, Ni and Pb.
NOTE Due to significant interference from Cu, Fe and Mn, no valid results can be reported using this method for fertilizer matrices containing high concentrations (>/= 10 %) of these micro-nutrients.