Quantifying beryllium concentrations in plant shoots from forest ecosystems using cation-exchange chromatography and quadrupole ICP-MS.

Beryllium (Be) is known to be one of the most toxic elements but at the same time exerts a stimulating effect on plant growth. Despite this contradiction, little is known about the Be metabolism in living organisms, partially because of the low amounts present and because the analysis of Be in plants by ICP-MS remains challenging. The challenges arise from the complex organic matrix, the low abundance of Be relative to the other plant essential elements, and the matrix effects resulting thereof in the plasma.