Determine Multiple Elements Simultaneously in the Sera of Umbilical Cord Blood Samples-a Very Simple Method

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Prenatal exposure to environmental agents can be assessed by analyzing heavy metal concentrations in umbilical cord blood.
• Developing sensitive analytical methods is crucial for monitoring in utero exposure to metallic and metalloid elements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of multiple metallic and metalloid elements in umbilical cord blood serum.
• To assess the feasibility of using this method for monitoring prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants.

Main Methods:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for simultaneous multi-element analysis.
• A matrix-matched protocol and kinetic energy discrimination mode were utilized to mitigate interferences.
• The method required a small sample volume (100 μL serum, 1:25 dilution) and offered rapid analysis (average 4 minutes).

Main Results:

• The developed ICP-MS method achieved low detection limits (0.0002–44.4 μg/L) for targeted elements.
• High detection rates (100%) were observed for most elements, with exceptions for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg).
• Analysis of certified reference materials yielded ideal results, confirming method accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed ICP-MS method is sensitive, simple, and rapid for analyzing heavy metals in umbilical cord blood serum.
• This method is suitable for large-scale monitoring of prenatal exposure to metallic and metalloid environmental agents.
• The findings support the use of this technique for public health assessments related to environmental exposures during pregnancy.