Cadmium, lead, copper and manganese determination in human deciduous teeth by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using a lanthanum, palladium and citric acid mixture as chemical modifier

Cadmium, lead, copper and manganese were determined in human deciduous teeth and bone ash 1400 standard reference material by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), using a lanthanum + palladium + citric acid (CA) modifier mixture. Optimum masses and mass ratios of La, La+Pd and La+Pd+CA modifiers for analytes in bone ash 1400 sample solution were investigated. Pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of analytes in a tooth sample solution were obtained with and without modifiers. The mixture of La+Pd+CA was found to be preferable for the determination of analytes in tooth samples and bone ash 1400, dissolved in a mixture of HNO3+H2O2. The detection limits and characteristic masses of analytes were obtained with or without modifiers based on integrated absorbance for tooth sample solution (2% m/v). The detection limits obtained with La+Pd+CA are 6,24,16 and 46 ng g(-1) for Cd, Cu, Mn and Pb, respectively. Recovery tests for analytes in bone ash 1400 and a tooth solution with La and La+Pd+CA modifier mixture were studied and compared with certified and non certified values. The La+Pd+CA mixture was also applied to the determination of Cd, Pb, Cu and Mn in tooth samples.