DETERMINATION OF LEAD IN WHOLE-BLOOD USIN G ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

The determination of lead in whole blood by atomic absorption spectrom e try with electrothermal atomization is presented. Using this method, a detection limit of 6 pg Pb was obtained using 250 mu l samples. Thi s method was verified on standard reference material KLI and in profic iency testing which was organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Arbeits medizin, E, V,, p. A. Institut fur Arbeits - und Sozialmedizin, Erlang en, Germany;. On the basis of our results, we have concluded that the average levels of lead in who,le blood of children from Bratislava do not exceed the arbitrary value (0.48 mu mol.l(-1)). However, the maxim um levels of lead in whole blood of children living in the centre of c ity and in locality with contamination from the oil refinery exceed th is value.