| Title: | Optimisation of a sample preparation method for the determination of multi-elemental compositions in human hair by triple quadrupole ICP-MS analysis |
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| Authors: | ID Runkel, Agneta Annika, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Jagodic Hudobivnik, Marta, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Živković, Igor, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Klemenčič, Polona, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Mazej, Darja, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author)
ID Horvat, Milena, Institut "Jožef Stefan" (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-025-04968-5
 PDF - Presentation file, download (1,59 MB)
MD5: 0A79DE356DD6CE007FE4EF4E6239C4F8
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  IJS - Jožef Stefan Institute
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| Abstract: | Monitoring toxic elements has a long tradition in Slovenia due to historical mining. More recently, attention has shifted to essential elements, since both deficiencies and excesses can harm health. Regular monitoring of (non-)essential elements supports risk assessment and policymaking. While urine and blood are common biomonitoring matrices, hair offers a non-invasive alternative that reflects exposure over several months, though standardised methodologies for hair analysis remain limited. This study aimed to develop and validate a sensitive and robust analytical method for the determination of 29 elements in human hair, addressing key challenges in sample preparation and contamination control. We developed a sensitive and robust method for the determination of 29 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, U, V, and Zn) in 3 cm segments of human hair that involves a washing procedure with acetone and Milli-Q water, microwave digestion with 65% HNO3, and analysis with Triple Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). Evaluation of preparation steps revealed stainless-steel scissors as a major contamination source. Glass digestion vessels were unsuitable for several elements due to high detection limits and relative standard deviations. The optimised method reduced analytical variability and improved sensitivity compared to published protocols. This validated method enables reproducible multi-elemental analysis in hair, highlights overlooked contamination risks, and is now applied in human biomonitoring studies to strengthen exposure assessment and standardisation efforts. |
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| Keywords: | determination of elements, optimization, human biomonitoring |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 26.09.2025 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 26.12.2025 |
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| Publication date: | 20.01.2026 |
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| Publisher: | Springer |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | str. [1-15] |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 204, article no. |
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| Source: | Švica |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-25688  |
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| UDC: | 543 |
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| ISSN on article: | 1559-0720 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s12011-025-04968-5 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 266258691 |
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| Copyright: | © The Author(s) 2026 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Soavtorji: Marta Jagodic Hudobivnik, Igor Živković, Polona Klemenčič, Darja Mazej, Milena Horvat;
Opis vira z dne 27. 1. 2026;
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 27.01.2026 |
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| Views: | 62 |
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| Downloads: | 33 |
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