Depth concentration profiles obtained by carbon furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for nickel and aluminium in human skin

Abstract

Carbon furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used to detect nickel and aluminium within the skin after topical application of materials containing these substances. Determination of the metals at particular depths within the skin was achieved by horizontal sectioning of the biopsies and analysis of the 20–30 µg skin samples obtained directly by dry ashing and atomising the solid skin sample in the furnace. The method was validated using wet ashed guinea pig skin samples and standard additions procedures and standard deviation data established using gelatine samples. Care was taken in developing the sample preparation procedure to assure no contamination of the skin sample by trace metals. The data obtained indicate that there is an apparent accumulation of nickel in fixed positions in the skin, perhaps associated with a higher density of Langerhans cells in these positions.