title: Simultaneous analysis of cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic content in foodstuffs of animal origin by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry after closed vessel microwave digestion: method validation.
abstract: A method validation of the total analysis of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg) in foodstuffs by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) after closed vessel microwave digestion is presented. Due to the lack of reference method for ICP/MS techniques in food and, based on the project of the European Committee of Normalization (CEN/TC 275/WG 10), the Agence Française de Normalisation (AFNOR) guidelines NF V03-110 were used for the evaluation of this method based on 2 steps, sample preparation and multielement detection. Several criteria considered as compulsory (linearity, specificity, precision under repeatability conditions, and trueness) have been estimated and discussed, in addition to intermediate precision reproducibility, the limit of detection, and the limit of quantification. Furthermore, a comparison with in-house methods using electrothermal atomic absorption was performed using an external proficiency testing scheme and food samples. The results indicated that this method could be used in the laboratory for the routine determination of these 4 cumulative toxic metals in foodstuffs with acceptable analytical performance.
authors.affiliation: Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Unité Contaminants Inorganiques et Minéraux de l'Environnement, Equipe Métaux Lourds et Elements Minéraux 23, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94706 Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France. l.noel@afssa.fr
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dufailly
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lemahieu
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vastel
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guérin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D004602:Elements; D005502:Food; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D008872:Microwaves; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004602:Elements; D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic