Michelle L. Briscoe, Brooks Rand LLC, Seattle, WA
Analysis of biomonitoring samples, such as urine, blood, and hair, outside of the clinical setting is often desired to support toxicological and bioaccumulation studies. Methods are required that may be used to screen biomonitoring samples when a population is suspected to be acutely exposed to trace metal concentrations via diet or environmental influences. While many trace elements are essential nutrients, they are often toxic at certain levels. Analysis of biomonitoring samples can be challenging, because many trace metals of interest are prone to analytical interferences or matrix effects from the biological specimens. Methods have been developed for the accurate, precise, and rapid determination of a wide range of trace-level elements using ICP-MS with reaction cell (DRC) technology. These methods have greatly improved detection limits compared to alternative instrumentation (i.e., graphite furnace AAS or ICP-OES) and have been shown to dramatically reduce the common polyatomic interference that ICP-MS can be prone to. Summaries of three examples of the methods that have been developed are presented in this work.
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