Lead in bone. I. Direct analysis for lead in milligram quantities of bone ash by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.

A method for direct lead content analysis of milligram quantities of bone ash by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy is described. Bone ash (25 mg) is dissolved with HNO3 and diluted with H2O and La2O3 (1,000 micrograms/ml) solution. Lanthanum ion is used to suppress matrix interferences possibly arising in part from sulfate components of the bone ash. Two bulk bone samples (about 14 and 60 micrograms Pb/g ash, respectively) were used to determine daily, within-day, and overall variability of the method. Values for "low lead" bone samples were 14.08 +/- 1.74 (SD) microgram Pb/g ash and for "high lead" bone samples were 60.85 +/- 5.24 (SD) microgram Pb/b ash. The overall value of 58 lead recovery determinations from bone ash analysis was 103.5% (+/- 12.9% SD). These values compare favorably with results previously reported using gram amounts of sample.