[Detection of metal elements of skin in electric injury by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of the detection of metal elements of skin in electric injury using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and to establish a method to detect metal elements of skin in electric injury.


METHODS
Brass, copper, aluminum and iron were used as electrodes to make electrical marks on rabbit hindlimb (220V AC), and then ICP-MS was used to detect the metal elements in injured skin.


RESULTS
Comparing with control group,the levels of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb showed higher in the group of brass shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Cr, Cu and Pb were higher in group of the copper shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb displayed stronger in group of aluminum shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Cr, Mn, Fe and Ni showed higher in the group of iron shock (P < 0.05). The types and levels of metal elements showed the significant difference between different electrode groups after electric injury.


CONCLUSIONS
ICP-MS can be used as an effective tool to determine electric injury, and the method can be used to estimate the features of electrodes.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. chen_yuanyuan2008@163.com
Yuan-yuan
YY
Chen
Jian-hua
JH
Zhang
Dong
D
Ma
Liz
L
Li
Yi-jiu
YJ
Chen
D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004556:Electric Injuries; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000293:injuries*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D008670:Metals; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc