title: Mercury-free sono-electroanalytical detection of lead in human blood by use of bismuth-film-modified boron-doped diamond electrodes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, Tartu, 51013, Estonia.
authors.forename: Jaanus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kruusma
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Compton
mesh_terms: D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D001895:Boron / Q000737:chemistry*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D018130:Diamond; D008628:Mercury; D001895:Boron; D001729:Bismuth