DIRECT ANALYSIS OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS (CHROMIUM, COPPER, IRON, MANGANESE, SELENIUM) IN HUMAN MILK BY ZEEMAN GFAAS

Summary Chromium, Cu, Fe, Mn and Se levels were determined in 39 samples of human milk using GFAAS with Zeeman correction. This method affords direct sample analysis, requiring only simple aqueous dilution of the milk with eventual addition of Mg(NO 3 ) 2 and Ni matrix modifiers. The detection power of this procedure is suitable for accurate determination of the various analytes. Concentrations of the essential elements determined in human milk were compared with data reported in the recent literature.