A cost-effective method applicable to the speciation analysis of lead in various types of seafood based on short-column ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract

There are multiple lead species, including inorganic and organic lead, that may simultaneously be present in marine organisms. Thus, it is crucial to detect lead species in seafood for scientifically evaluating the health risk of lead in seafood. We herein developed a cost-effective short-column ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) method and a broadly applicable microwave-assisted extraction method for the speciation analysis of lead in various types of seafood, including different species of seaweed, fish and shellfish. The short-column IC-ICP-MS method utilized low-cost cation guard columns as separation columns, offering high sensitivity, shorter analysis time and lower analysis costs. The microwave-assisted extraction method is widely applicable; it can be used to extract lead species from various types of seafood with an extraction efficiency >90%, while keeping lead species unaltered. In particular, the seafood extract obtained with the extraction method can be directly injected into the short-column IC-ICP-MS for the detection of lead species without extra pretreatment. The developed extraction and IC-ICP-MS method has been successfully used to detect Pb²⁺, tri-methyl lead (TML) and tri-ethyl lead (TEL) in various species of seaweed, fish and shellfish with a recovery of 94–105%, a relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) <6% and a method detection limit of 0.60–0.72 ng Pb g⁻¹ dried seafood. The success of this study offers a reliable and universal approach for objectively assessing the health risks associated with lead originating from seafood.