Determination of trace elements in urine by inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry – Biomonitoring of adults in the German capital region. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmied, Andy; Murawski, Aline; Kolossa-Gehring, Marike; Kujath, Peter
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 285(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Human biological monitoring -- Metals and metalloids -- ICP-MS/MS -- General population -- Adults -- German environmental survey; AM arithmetic mean -- Astotal total arsenic -- BAR Biological Reference Values for Chemical Compounds in the Work Area -- CV coefficient of variation CRC -- collision reaction cell GerES -- German Environmental Survey G-EQUAS -- German External Quality Assessment Scheme ICP-MS -- inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry ICP-MS/MS inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry -- GM geometric mean -- HBM-1 human biomonitoring value 1 -- LOQ limit of quantification -- N sample size -- P percentile -- QMEQAS Quebec Multielement External Quality Assessment Scheme -- sf-ICP-MS sector field ICP-MS; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131425
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: A method was developed and validated for multi-element analyses of human urine samples using inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry. The combination of a simple sample preparation and the state-of-the-art technique allows high-throughput and lowest limits of quantification up to 1 ng/L. Thereby coefficients of variation ranges from 0.4% (V) to 3.7% (Be), and 0.9% (Cd) to 4.8% (Ni) for intraday and interday precision, respectively. The method's performance is demonstrated by successful participation in international interlaboratory comparison programs as external quality assurance. Moreover, the method was applied for the analysis of first-morning void urine samples of adults (N = 77) living in the German capital region. 15 metals and metalloids (Astotal, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V, and Zn) were determined. With exception of indium, all elements were found in urine samples above the limit of quantification, demonstrating the suitability to measure the general population's exposure to these metals and metalloids. The method presented here shall be used for analysis of urine samples collected in the upcoming German Environmental Survey, GerES VI, a cross-sectional, population-representative study. Highlights: Validation of a simple and sensitive ICP-MS/MS method for urine analysis. Performance shown by internal and external quality assurance. Analysis of first-morning void urine samples of non-specifically occupationally exposed adults. Astotal, Cd, Co, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V, and Zn quantified in 100% of the samples.