Diane Marles, Adam Perry, and Jeff Wyant

ICPAES was used to measure the content of various heavy metals in two Guatemalan coffees; one organic and the other non-organic. Fe, Cu, Pb, and Cd were tested for in each sample and while performing the analysis, Ni was also found to be present in detectable amounts with great contrast between levels found in the organic sample versus the non-organic sample. From the concentrations of the test solutions th amount of each metal per serving was back calculated fo reach sample. The levels between the organic and non-organic were compared yielding concentration which were: 2.3 %, 3.2%, 10.6%, and 46 % higher in the organic coffee for Cd, Cu, Fe, and Ni, respectively. An adequate comparison for Pb could not be found because Pb content was consistently below the DL.