Determination of heavy metal contents in human colostrum samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Determination of lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, manganese and copper leve ls in colostrum samples (n = 30), collected from middle-class mothers, was carried out by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer (ETAAS) w ith Zeeman effect background correction using a tungsten-palladium-citric a cid chemical modifier mixture. A wet-ashing procedure was applied to dissol ve the samples and to remove the fat. The graphite furnace temperature prog ramme for analytes determined by ETAAS was studied, and the optimum pyrolys is temperatures of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn and Cu were determined in the presenc e of the modifier mixture. Detection limits of Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn and Cr were d etermined using a modifier mixture solution. Zinc and iron levels were dete rmined by Zeeman flame atomic absorption spectrometer (F-AAS). Heavy metal levels (mean values) found in colostrum samples were 14.6 mug/l of Pb, 2.8 mug/l of Cd, 27.8 mug/l of Ni, 8.6 mug/l of Cr, 43.2 mug/l of Mn, 278 mug/l of Cu, 12.9 mg/l of Zu, and 3.5 mg/l of Fe, These metal levels were compar ed with results from other studies in different countries.