Optimization of an acidic digestion method for the determination of total Pb concentration and its isotope ratios in human blood using ICP-QMS

Abstract

ABSTRACTAdverse effects of lead (Pb) on human health are observed even at levels below 5 μg/dL, affecting principally the children population and suggesting that there is not a safe exposure level. The determination of Pb isotopic ratios (LIRs) in biological and environmental samples, is an appropriate tool to track and control the exposure sources, because LIRs constitutes the pollutant's isotopic signature and hence can be used to identify sources of Pb emission. This study proposes the optimization of a method in order to significantly reduce the biological samples' matrix interferences, and improves precision and accuracy in the measurements of LIRs. Four total blood digestion methods were evaluated and the results were subjected to statistical methods (ANOVA) determining the combination of HNO3:H2O2 (2:1 v v−1)/g from a sample on a hot plate as the best of them. For the method's validation, detection and quantification limits, linearity range, intermediate precision and recovery were evaluated. The total Pb (PbT) and LIRs were performed by ICP-QMS, defining the optimal value of detector dead time (DT), and correcting mass bias and instrumental drift for this matrix. LIRs based on 206Pb, 207Pb and 208Pb were determined at high precision (%RSD 0.03–0.49%), than those involving 204Pb (%RSD > 0.8). The optimized methodology can be used to identify pollution sources in blood and environmental samples using LIRs (206Pb/207Pb, 207Pb/208Pb, 208Pb/206Pb, etc.) in a trustworthy and simple way, with accurate results.