A Method for the Measurement of Mercury in Human Whole Blood

Alicia E. Stube, Helene H. Freiser, Charles R. Santerre

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DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2011.27086                

Abstract

A method for measuring total mercury in human whole blood using Thermal Decomposi-tion-Amalgamation/ Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (TDA/AAS) was developed and applied to a study of women that were fish consumers. This method has a limit of detection of 0.33 μg/L. The blood mercury concentrations measured ranged from 0.74 μg/L to 14.80 μg/L, with a mean of 3.36 μg/L. Accuracy was within 15% of the expected value at the lower concentrations and within 10% at higher concentrations. Some 560 analysis were completed in about three weeks and the mean error in precision was 1.8% when measured in duplicate. It was concluded that this method is viable for use in clinical settings, with the benefit of small sample volumes and minimal sample preparation.

Keywords

Mercury, TDA/AAS, Human Blood

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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