Problems of Forensic Sciences 2008 Vol. 76 (LXXVI) 412-419
ICP-OES IN ANALYSIS OF INORGANIC POISONS IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
Józefa Krystyna SADLIK1, Maria ZAUCHA2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow, Poland
2Department of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Streszczenie
Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is a method which allows simultaneous determination of many elements, metals and non-metals, in a broad range of concentrations. There are a limited number of papers in the literature concerning determination of toxic metals and (toxic) non-metals in biological materials by this method. The type and size of the analysed sample as well as the concentration of determined elements are the main limitations of application of this method to analysis of biological materials. Results of application of the ICP-OES method to analysis of samples of internal organs, blood and urine are presented. The aim of the research was to evaluate this method’s application to determination of mercury and lead in the mentioned samples. The research encompassed selection of analytical lines having suitable sensitivity, specificity and selectivity as well as estimation of the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision and accuracy. Obtained results suggest that the ICP-OES method can be used for mercury and lead determination at concentrations occurring in biological material in cases of acute poisoning. The method revealed relatively weak sensitivity when it was applied to determination of these elements at concentrations close to normal levels. Preliminary results allow us to state that similar conclusions may be drawn concerning other elements normally present in biological material at low concentration levels, e.g. thallium, chromium, and arsenic, but whose concentrations are significantly higher in cases of acute poisoning.
Słowa kluczowe
IP-OES; Mercury; Lead; Toxic concentrations.