Determination of Urinary Lead Levels in Normal Population by Graphite-Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Using Palladium Chloride as the Matrix Modifier

A direct method with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry for determining low lead (Pb) levels in urine was described. The present method was based on wet-ashing digestion, 2-fold concentrated urine, and matrix modification with palladium chloride (PdCl2). The sensitivity (concentration at 0.0044 absorption units) of the proposed method is 0.18 ppb. Results were presented on the degree of accuracy and precision. Accuracy of the proposed method was checked by comparison with the values determined by the extracted method (conventional method). Precision of the proposed method was evaluated by within-run and between-run precision. Both of them were found to be satisfactory. Due to the high sensitivity, the proposed method could be applied to determine urinary Pb concentration in normal populations with no known Pb exposure. Moreover, the method is simple, fast, and automatic.