J. Begerow et al., New horizons in human biomonitoring of environmentally and occupationally relevant metals-sector-field ICP-MS versus electrothermal AAS, J ANAL ATOM, 15(4), 2000, pp. 347-352
Sector-field ICP-MS (SF-ICP-MS) was used for the quasi-simultaneous determi
nation of selected trace and ultra-trace elements of occupational and envir
onmental interest, such as Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pt, V and Zn, in hum
an urine and serum. In the case of urine, Pb, Cd and Tl were additionally d
etermined. Sample pretreatment was restricted to UV photolysis and to a sub
sequent moderate dilution with 0.5% HNO3 solution without using any chemica
l separation and enrichment. Contamination was carefully controlled at each
step of the analytical procedure. Calibration was carried out by the stand
ard addition procedure. Owing to spectral interferences, the determination
of Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, V and Zn was performed in the medium resolution
(MR) mode (m/Delta m congruent to 3000), while the determination of non-int
erfered elements, such as Cd, Mn, Pb, Pt and Tl, was carried out at low res
olution (LR) to gain a maximum of sensitivity. The accuracy of the procedur
e was checked by the analysis of commercially available quality control ser
um and urine samples, by comparison with electrothermal (ET-)AAS as a secon
d independent method and by successful participation in an inter-laboratory
comparison programme. The results obtained with both methods were in excel
lent agreement. Regarding the quality control materials, good agreement was
also achieved between the found and assigned values. The described SF-ICP-
MS multi-element method is thus suitable for the quasi-simultaneous determi
nation of trace and ultra-trace elements in urine and serum covering a wide
range of concentrations. It is especially valuable for rapid multi-element
screening purposes in cases of unknown exposures (non-target screening) an
d for determinations at very low concentrations, which are not accessible t
o AAS techniques.