A method for direct lead content analysis of milligram quantities of bone ash by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy is described. Bone ash (25 mg) is dissolved with HNO3 and diluted with H2O and La2O3 (1,000 micrograms/ml) solution. Lanthanum ion is used to suppress matrix interferences possibly arising in part from sulfate components of the bone ash. Two bulk bone samples (about 14 and 60 micrograms Pb/g ash, respectively) were used to determine daily, within-day, and overall variability of the method. Values for "low lead" bone samples were 14.08 +/- 1.74 (SD) microgram Pb/g ash and for "high lead" bone samples were 60.85 +/- 5.24 (SD) microgram Pb/b ash. The overall value of 58 lead recovery determinations from bone ash analysis was 103.5% (+/- 12.9% SD). These values compare favorably with results previously reported using gram amounts of sample.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.