Slurry sampling in serum blood for mercury determination by CV-AFS

ARANDA, P.R.DE VITO,I.; GIL,R.A; MOYANO,S.; DE VITO, I; MARTINEZ, L. D

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.

Elsevier

Año: 2009 p. 1399 - 1403

0304-3894

The heavymetal mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxin knownto have a serious health impact even at relatively lowconcentrations. A slurry method was developed for the sensitive and precise determination of mercuryin human serum blood samples by cold vapor generation coupled to atomic fluorescence spectrometry(CV-AFS). All variables related to the slurry formation were studied. The optimal hydrochloric concentrationand tin(II) chloride concentration for CV generation were evaluated. Calibration within the range0.1–10gL−1 Hg was performed with the standard addition method, and compared with an externalcalibration. Additionally, the reliability of the results obtained was evaluated by analyzing mercury inthe same samples, but submitted to microwave-assisted digestion method. The limit of detection wascalculated as 25 ng L−1 and the relative standard deviation was 3.9% at levels around of 0.4gL−1 Hg.© 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.