Determination of cadmium and lead in urine and other biological samples by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry

A method for determining cadmium and lead in urine and other biological samples by graphite-furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry is reported. Samples were analysed after wet or dry ashing and without extraction or matrix-modification techniques, in laminar-flow clean-room; negligible blank contributions were found. Matrix interference effects were observed only for lead and were resolved by the method of standard additions. Five NBS biological reference materials were used as internal quality-control standards. The urinary levels for non-exposed volunteers ranged from 0.16 +/- 0.01 to 1.65 +/- 0.20 and from 6 +/- 1 to 31 +/- 6 ng/ml for cadmium and lead, respectively; this corresponds to 0.15 +/- 0.02 to 2.01 +/- 0.16 and 7 +/- 1 to 31 +/- 3 mug/day. The average relative standard deviation for 60 urine samples was 10% for cadmium and 13% for lead.