DETERMINATION OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF COBALT IN BLOOD

The analysis of cobalt in whole blood and blood fractions has been car ried out using three different analytical techniques namely, electroth ermal atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and cathodic stripping voltammetry. This study showed tha t inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was the better equipped technique for conducting such analyses due to its low detection limit s and wide linear dynamic range. The results ranged between 0.7 - 2.62 mu g/l for plasma, 1.02 - 2.31 mu g/l for serum, and 0.66 - 1.28 mu g /l for whole blood. The introduction of different forms of cobalt to W istar rats resulted in a differing distribution of the element between serum and whole blood. This observation suggests that there are at le ast two modes of Co uptake and transport depending on the administered or taken chemical form.