title: Determination of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in human semen by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave sample dissolution.
abstract: Human semen samples were analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, using L'vov platforms and the method of standard additions, to determine their Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn content. The samples were analyzed directly and after conventional and microwave wet acid dissolution. Matrix modification, using magnesium and palladium nitrates and ammonium biphosphate solutions, was evaluated for the analysis of the microwave-digested samples. The best results were obtained for Cr, Cu and Zn using Pd(NO3)2, and a mixture of Mg(NO3)2 and Pd(NO3)2 solutions. The direct analysis of water-diluted semen produced inaccurate results with unacceptably high standard deviations. The results obtained for the microwave-dissolved samples showed relative standard deviation values within the range 0.63-8.4%. The analysis of spiked semen solutions showed recoveries of the added analytes ranging from 96 to 104%. The accuracy of the measurements was checked against the NIST 1,577a, bovine liver, standard reference material. Sample dissolution time was drastically reduced from 3-4 hours, using the conventional method, to approximately 8 minutes using the microwave-assisted wet acid digestion procedure.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cristiano
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc