Problems of Forensic Sciences 2009 Vol. 77 (LXXVII) 64-78
APPLICATION OF ICP-OES TO MULTIELEMENT ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL IN FORENSIC INORGANIC TOXICOLOGY
Teresa LECH1, Tomasz LACHOWICZ2
1Institute of Forensic Research, Krakow, Poland
2Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Streszczenie
The possibility of using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) with axial and radial configurations (duo mode) to determine essential trace elements and to detect potential toxic metals and nonmetals in biological fluids and tissues was evaluated. It was concluded that generally ICP-OES is a useful method for assessing the concentrations and the profile of some elements in human autopsy tissues and body fluids, e.g. Zn, Mn and Cu, as well as Al, B, Ba and Sr, which are difficult to determine by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS), but it has some limitations. On the basis of results of analysis of autopsy material – tissues and body fluids (n = 75) – using the ICP-OES method, it was ascertained that this method does not enable establishment of reference values of, for example, As, Tl, Co, Cr and Ni in tissues, and also Pb, Cd and Hg (except in kidney, liver and spleen). The correctness of the method was checked by analysis of certified reference materials (Seronorm Whole Blood 2, Seronorm Trace Elements Urine, NIST Bovine Liver 1577b) and was acceptable for Al, Cd, Co, Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Sr and Ba, while for Tl, Pb and Li – it was not acceptable.
Słowa kluczowe
Multielement analysis; Biological material; ICP-OES.