Determination of lead and cadmium in human seminal fluid by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A sensitive method is described for the determination of Pb and Cd in human seminal fluid by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction. The method includes deproteinization of seminal fluid with nitric acid, calibration using matrix-matched standards containing a mixture of Pb and Cd and integrated absorbance measurement using a L'vov platform in a non-grooved pyrolytic graphite coated graphite tube. The detection limits (3σ) are 1.4 µg l^–1 of Pb and 0.05 µg l^–1 of Cd in seminal fluid. The day-to-day precisions (relative standard deviations) of duplicate determinations in 121 samples are in the range 4–14% at 4–48 µg l^–1 of Pb and 4–16% at 0.2–3.6 µg l^–1 of Cd in seminal fluid. The recoveries (mean ± standard deviation) are 100.6 ± 3.6% of Pb and 98.8 ± 4.2% of Cd and the characteristic mass values are 11.6 pg of Pb and 0.41 pg of Cd, indicating the absence of interferences. Data are presented on the levels of Pb in seminal fluid in normal subjects and those working with Pb and of Cd in seminal fluid in non-smokers and smokers. Corresponding ‘normal values’(median and range) of Pb and Cd in seminal fluid are 8.6 (4.2–16.6)µg l^–1 and 0.54 (0.17–1.67)µg l^–1, respectively.