Determination of Blood Levels in the Analytical Laboratory In recent years the health hazard presented by lead has became a major concern of public health officials. Two major routes by which lead enters the human body are the alimentary and respiratory traets.'The determination of the lead concentration in the hlood can provide important information about the overall health status of the p e r s ~ n . ~ Five rnl of blood from each oartiei~atine .. student was collected into he~arinizedlead-free vanrtainers bv. a oualitied person. A rapid pn,rrdurr fi,r sample prepamtion and iuhsequent analysis ov atsrmlr nbwrption speerroswpy using the I)rlwr Cup hltthod nnd the method of standard add:tioni was empluved in rhe itudy."'l'he atvmlc ahsorpthm specrn,. phutmwrcr and the associated instrumental parameters have heen previously descrilbed in r h , i J w r n a l I.eod runrenrmrlcn$ a w e calculated in units of uy Plr 1011 ml whole h l o d The range oilead levels was 12.7 to 33.8 r g PI) In0 ml blmd with a mean valw of 19.9GC Ph 100 ml hloud. Kubots and ro~vurkersrrpwted a meanof 1:J rc1y100 ml in their study of residents of 19 different U S . ~ i t i e s . ~ A normal. healthv adult has a blood lead level of less than 30 ue PhllMl mL7 Eirhtv Dercent of the subiects in this studv " .. had hlood lead cance&rations of 25 ire of the values exceeded the "safe limit" of 30 .ve..~ h l l ~ b ~~.one oer&t , . ,.PtillMI ml or less: ml. From personal dnrd a~quiredthrough a questionnaire completed by each participant. no corrclatam oi blood lend level w t h nyc, c c x . height. t~t.iehtur academic maprr was found. Huurver. a rorrclatiun roefiicieot of tl.64 reflected significant xtprmrnt ot a >n&nt'i h o d lend concentrat a m with rhe population of rhr city 01 permanent rea~dcnceThis trend may be explained by the increased lead-containing automotive emissions associated with a denser urban environment. Although this study was designed as an undergraduate research project, it is an attractive laboratory procedure for an analytical or clinical chemistry course. The student is introduced to the important technique of atomic absorption spectroscopy and microsampling via the Delves Cup Method. High student interest maintains vitality in the program and local hospitals which have large lead screening programs for children provide a plentiful source of sample.
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Hall, S. K.,Enuir. Sei. Teehnol., 6,30 (1972). Bogden, J. D., Sirgh, N. P.,and Joselow, M. M.,Enuir. Sci. Teehnol., 8,740 (1974). It is appropriate to stress that blood should be drawn by a qualified person to ensure safe use of the experiment. "Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy," Perkin Elmer Corp., Norwalk, Conn., 1971. Stemporzewski, S. E., Butler, R. A., and Barry, E. F.,J. Chem. Ed., 51,332 (1974). Kuhata. J. Lazar. V.. and Losee. F..Areh. Enuiron. Health.. 16.188 11968). . ' C h i d m , .I. .I. "l.ead Puisoning," Sctentitic American, February, 1971. ' I'reicnt nddrrss I ' R . Mollurv and Co.. IIIL , Burlmgton. Marsarhmettr 01803 I I'r*.ent nddrcsa. Ikpartmcnt oiChemistry. University of Flmida. Caiwsvillp. 32601 Susan k:. Stemporzewskih University of Lowell Hiehard A. ButlerY Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Eugene F. Harry
516 / Journal of Chemical Education
