SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF LEAD, CADMI UM AND NICKEL IN FOODSTUFFS, ANIMAL ORGANS, TISSUES AND HUMAN FOOD BY GRAPHITE-FURNACE ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY (GF-AAS)

A new generation of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer en ables the simultaneous determination of several trace elements. Using an optimized temperature-time-program for ashing and atomization, the Smith-Hieftje background correction and a matrix modifier, the determi nation of Pb, Cd and Ni in one run is possible. The detection limits o f the new method of 0.039 mg Pb, 0.006 mg Cd and 0.022 mg Ni per kg sa mple, permit the determination of these elements in soils, foodstuffs, animal organs, tissues and human food. These detection limits comply with the guidelines of the ''Zentrale Erfassungs-und Bewertungsstelle fur Umweltchemikalien'' (central registration- and assessment office f or environmental chemicals) of the ''Bundesgesundheitsamt'' (german pu blic health department). The new multielement method reduces measureme nt time and costs, i.e. graphite tubes, gas, matrix modifier, referenc e material and sample solution, in comparison to conventional single-e lement GF-AAS.