Mercury-free sono-electroanalytical detection of lead in human blood by use of bismuth-film-modified boron-doped diamond electrodes.

We report the electroanalytical determination of lead by anodic stripping voltammetry at in-situ-formed, bismuth-film-modified, boron-doped diamond electrodes. Detection limits in 0.1 mol L(-1) nitric acid solution of 9.6 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (0.2 ppb) and 1.1 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (2.3 ppb) were obtained after 60 and 300 s deposition times, respectively. An acoustically assisted deposition procedure was also investigated and found to result in improved limits of detection of 2.6 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) (5.4 ppb) and 8.5 x 10(-10) mol L(-1) (0.18 ppb) for 60 and 300 s accumulation times, respectively. Furthermore, the sensitivity obtained under quiescent and insonated conditions increased from 5.5 (quiescent) to 76.7 A mol(-1) L (insonated) for 60 s accumulation and from 25.8 (quiescent) to 317.6 A mol(-1) L (insonated) for 300 s accumulation. Investigation of the use of ultrasound with diluted blood revealed detection limits of the order of 10(-8) mol L(-1) were achievable with excellent inter- and intra-reproducibility and sensitivity of 411.9 A mol(-1) L. For the first time, electroanalytical detection of lead in diluted blood is shown to be possible by use of insonated in-situ-formed bismuth-film-modified boron-doped diamond electrodes. This method is a rapid, sensitive, and non-toxic means of clinical sensing of lead in whole human blood.