The Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Hair by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable pollutants in environment that can enter our bodies through different routes and accumulated in the body. Hair analysis is increasing in studies due to the advantage of results of any homeostatic mechanisms unlike blood sample. The aim of this was to develop an analytical method to determine the concentration of nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in hair sample by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis was performed using ICP-MS ELAN 9000 (Perkin Elmer) that equipped with a Meinhard Concentric Quartz Nebulizer, Cyclonic Spray Chamber, Nickel Sampler and Skimmer Cones. The validation of each element was done using human hair Certified Reference Material (CRM), USA. Spike recovery of these elements was done by using CRM and the values were within 85% to 115% for validation. The linear calibration curves were established using concentration of 5, 10, 20, 50, 70 and 100 ppb of each element with good linearity (r2>0.999). The lowest limits of detection for Ni, As, Cd and Pb were 61.18 μg/g, 2.34 μg/g, 6.15 μg/g and 112.95 μg/g. The results prove that ICP-MS can provide better sensitivity and detection limit can be achieved down to 2.34 μg/g. This approach offers the advantages of simplicity and ease of use as no pre-analytical steps such as digestion or excretion. In conclusion, ICP-MS can offer the capability to performed sub part per billion levels of multi-elements measurement. Hence this study demonstrated that ICP-MS can be effectively used for determination of heavy metal in human hair.