Analysis of total mercury in human tissues prepared by microwave decomposition using a hydride generator system...

A fast and efficient procedure has been developed for the analysis of total mercury in human tissues and blood using a hydride vapor generator system coupled to an atomic absorption spectrometer (HVG-AA). Tissue and blood samples were digested in a pressurized microwave decomposition system and the digest diluted prior to formation of free mercury vapor and analysis by atomic absorption. Recovery studies performed on 10 spiked/unspiked pairs of human liver and on 10 spiked/unspiked pairs of human blood samples yielded average recoveries of 99.7% (CV=0.4%) and 101.2% (CV=0.5%), respectively. The method detection limit for liver and blood was 50 microg Hg/kg and 12.5 microg Hg/l, respectively. The "normal" concentrations of mercury in human liver and blood are 33-490 microg Hg/kg and 0.6-59 microg Hg/l, respectively [1]. This method is able to determine mercury poisoning levels and may also be applied to detect mercury near the lower levels of these "normal" ranges, using the standard addition method approach.