title: Isotope ratio analysis of lead in biological materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
abstract: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) allowed 0.2-0.3% imprecision (1 sigma) in 204Pb/206Pb, 207Pb/206Pb, and 208Pb/206Pb measurements at the 20-100 ppb level, which was precise enough to detect some of the isotopic variations observed in nature. Mass discrimination could be corrected within +/- 0.5% of the true value by periodical analysis of standard reference material of known lead isotopic composition. As a separation method for lead in human bone, which contains enormous amounts of calcium and phosphorus, anion exchange of the Pb-Br complex was found to be effective. Lead isotope ratios in bone, measured by ICP-MS after separation, were consistent with those measured by thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Hair matrix did not have any influence on the accuracy and precision of the analysis; a digested sample could be directly analyzed and this offered rapid sample throughput. Preliminary data on lead isotope ratios in bone and hair from prehistoric and contemporary Japanese are presented.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshinaga
mesh_terms: D001106:Archaeology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D007854:Lead; D013455:Sulfur