Articles
Dried blood spots for Pb determination using solid sampling-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
Lead exposure is an international issue. Pb may enter biological systems (as Pb2+) via food (e.g. food contaminated from cans containing Pb solders in the joints), water (e.g. use of lead pipes), air and soil (the combustions of leaded fuels have contributed to the accumulation of atmospheric and soil Pb). In the USA, the major source of ingestion in young children seems to be the dust and chips originating from old lead paint (used from 1884 to 1978).1 Foetuses and very young children (up to 36 months of age) are more sensitive than adults to relatively high blood lead levels because their brains and nervous systems are still developing and their blood-brain barrier is still incomplete. Childhood lead exposure has been correlated with school absenteeism, low class ranks, poorer vocabulary, longer reaction times and diminished hand-eye coordination, among other neurobehavioural disorders.
A comparison of two digestion methods for the analysis of heavy metals by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy
The aim of this study is to compare two of the most applied digestion methods for heavy metals determination in calcareous soils, evaluating the most effective and useful digestion method to be applied to agricultural soils devoted to growing vegetable crops in the Valencian Mediterranean region, a representative area of the European Mediterranean region.
Trace element availability in compost
Qi Jun Songa and Gillian M. Greenwayb*
aSchool of Chemical and Material Engineering, Southern Yangtze University, China
bHull Environment Research Institute, University of Hull, UK
Method development for ultra-trace quantification and isotope ratio measurement of uranium in urine
J. Mortona and Simon M. Nelmsb
aBiological Monitoring, Health and Safety Laboratory, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK
bThermo Electron Corporation, Ion Path, Road Three, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 3BX, UK