Determination of lead and nickel in epithelial tissue by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The atomic absorption spectrometric determination of lead and nickel in epithelial tissue sections by solid injection into the graphite furnace is described. Matrix interference is minimised by using as small a sample of tissue (ca. 1 μg) as possible. Although this is good for biopsy analsis where sample size is limited, the advantages obtained by decreasing the sample size are compromiseed by the difficulties in handling and weighing Hair, nail and skin sections were analysed by using doped gelatin and NBS bovine liver as reference materials. Profiles of element concentration in these matrices are presented.