title: Silicon analysis in biological specimens by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy.
abstract: A method for the determination of total elemental silicon concentrations in biological fluids by direct current plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES) is presented. The method is linear up to 30 micrograms/mL in blood, serum, plasma, and urine, with a detection limit of 0.2 microgram/mL. Population ranges of silicon concentration in blood, plasma, serum, and urine were found to be less than 0.3 to 33 micrograms/mL, less than 0.4 to 39 micrograms/mL, less than 0.2 to 68 micrograms/mL, and less than 0.3 to 180 micrograms/mL, respectively. Over 50% of all measured concentrations were less than 0.5 microgram/mL for blood, plasma, and serum. Estimates of "normal" population ranges are reported, and potential applicability of this procedure to silicone-related maladies is discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Medical Services, Inc., Willow Grove, PA 19090.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bercowy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rieders
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon