Skin selenium content measured by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Selenium is an essential trace element with critical roles in human health.
• Accurate measurement of selenium concentrations in biological tissues is vital for research.
• Skin tissue selenium levels can reflect overall selenium status and exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable method for quantifying selenium in skin.
• To assess the accuracy and precision of the proposed analytical technique.
• To determine the suitability of the method for high-throughput sample analysis.

Main Methods:

• Hydride generation coupled with atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS) was employed.
• Selenium concentration was determined in dry skin tissue samples.
• Method validation included recovery studies and assessment of relative standard deviation.

Main Results:

• The HG-AAS method demonstrated high accuracy, with mean selenium recoveries ranging from 92% to 98%.
• Excellent precision was achieved, with within-run relative standard deviation below 7% for concentrations under 12 nmol/g dry tissue.
• The analytical procedure proved efficient for processing large sample volumes.

Conclusions:

• The validated HG-AAS method provides accurate and precise quantification of selenium in skin.
• This technique is suitable for routine analysis in research settings, facilitating large-scale selenium studies.
• The method supports investigations into selenium's role in health and disease through tissue analysis.