DETERMINATION OF LEAD AND CADMIUM IN BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL BY GRAPHITE FURNACE ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY METHOD

A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry method for lead and cadmium determination in biological material was prepared. The samples were digested in muffle furnace at 450oC. The ash was dissolved in 1N hydrochloric acid and the final solution was diluted in 0.2% nitric acid. The heavy metals were determined using a Perkin-Elmer atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL) at 283.3 nm for Pb and 228.8 nm for Cd. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and magnesium nitrate were used as matrix modifiers for both Pb and Cd analyses. The method was validated in terms of basic analytical parameters. The mean recoveries of lead and cadmium were 82.05 and 98.40% and their analytical detection limits were 0.001 and 0.0001 µg/g, respectively. Certified reference materials and participation in national and international proficiency studies were used for analytical quality assurance programme.