Atomic Spectrometry Update—Clinical and Biological Materials, Food and Beverages

Abstract

This Update spans all the abstracts listed in the 1995 issues of JAAS (95/1–95/4243). Developments in sample preparation/enrichment continued apace. Many of these involved FI and were usually coupled directly to the analytical instrument for on-line measurements. In our recent Updates, accelerator MS for investigations of A1 physiology has been featured; this year we saw the application of the technique to Ca and other elements. The ever-present interest in lead exposure among children has prompted construction of simple, semi-portable instruments with electrothermal atomizers, dedicated to measurement of Pb in blood. These emerged at Pittcon 1995 and were also shown at later conferences. Investigations of trace element nutrition and metabolism using stable isotopes and mass spectrometric methods have been reported in the past, but this year saw the publication of a comprehensive review of this important topic. A number of papers from the Fifth Nordic Symposium on Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease were published in The Analyst, including two which described endemic arsenic toxicity in West Bengal. As the source of exposure was naturally contaminated drinking water, this tragic situation must have been ongoing for many years, and it is surprising that information has only recently been forthcoming.