Comparison of the ICP OES viewing modes efficiency in the estimation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in whole blood samples

Abstract

In forensic toxicology, precise determination of toxic trace metals in biological samples is critical. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), which has a low limit of detection, high sensitivity, accurate testing, and high analytical efficiency, is one of the most widely used techniques for determining the level of toxic trace metals in biological samples. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of ICP-OES in estimating cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in whole blood samples when viewed axially, dual, and radially. All the samples that were analyzed were digested in 1.5 ml HNO3 and 2 ml H2O2. Selectivity, linearity, recovery, limits of detection (LOD), and quantification (LOQ) were used to validate the system. Cd-axial and radial recovery values were between 82–96 and 84–97%, while Pb-axial and radial recovery values were between 85–94 and 83–99%. Dual Cd-axial and radial recovery values were between 80–92 and 82–94%, while dual Pb-axial and radial recovery values were between 77–92 and 75–96%. The results demonstrated that the axillary and radially view is preferable to the dual view when using separate axially and radially view inductively coupled plasmas (ICP). In axillary and radially views, Cd's recovery rates were better than Pb's in the separate mode, but overall they were satisfactory. The recovery values for Cd and Pb in the dual view were acceptable but not sufficient.