Application of ICP-MS for Multielement Analysis in Small Sample Amoun ts of Pathological Thyroid Tissue

 As a result of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, thyroid pathologies occurred among children in some regions of Belarus. Besides the irradiation of children’s thyroids by radioactive iodine and caesium nuclides, toxic elements from fallout are a direct risk to health. Inductively coupled plasma quadrupole-based mass spectrometry was used for multielement determination in small amounts (1–10 mg) of thyroid tissue samples obtained during thyroid operations in Minsk hospitals. The accuracy of the applied analytical technique for small biological sample amounts was checked using NIST Standard Reference Material oyster tissue (SRM 1566b) and by comparison with independent analytical methods, such as neutron activation analysis. Almost all essential elements as well as a number of toxic elements such as Cd, Pb, Hg, U etc. were determined in a multitude of human and animal thyroid tissues (up to 1 mg sample material) by quadrupole-based ICP-MS using micronebulization. In general, the thyroid tissue affected by pathology is characterized by higher calcium content. Some other elements, among them Fe, Mn, V, As, Cr, Ni, Pb, U, Ba, Sb, were also accumulated in such tissue. The results obtained will be used as initial material for further specific studies of the role of particular elements in thyroid pathology development. Received November 15, 1999. Revision March 15, 2000.