Determination of lead and cadmium in human hair by atomic absorption spectrometric procedures after solid phase extraction

A separation and preconcentration procedure for Pb and Cd in human hair by using the chelating ion-exchanger, Iontosorb-Oxin, is described. The sorption yield dependence of Pb and Cd, on pH, time, and on the presence of accompanying elements, was investigated. The hair samples were decomposed by microwave irradiation and the determination of lead and cadmium was by flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS and ETA-AAS, respectively). The precision and accuracy of this procedure were checked by the use of synthetic and certified reference materials. The limit of determination was 1 μg Pb l−1 and 0.1 μg Cd l−1, respectively. The procedure was applied to samples of human hair.