Determination of Lead in Whole Blood by Graphite Furnace Atomic Aborption Spectrophotometry

Abstract

A method has been developed to rapidly and accurately determine the lead content of whole blood by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A weighed sample of heparinized blood is diluted with double-deionized water. An aliquot is pipetted into the graphite furnace, dried, ashed, and atomized. During atomization the lead absorption signal is recorded using simultaneous background correction. The method is virtually free of contamination and requires approximately 20 minutes per sample for analysis. Blood samples have been analyzed by direct comparison with aqueous and spiked blood standards and by the method of standard additions. A sensitivity of 0.010 mg/lOOg hs been calculated for a 1% absorption. This method was compared to an isotopic-dilution spark-solurce mass spectrometry method.