Savory, J; Roszel, NO; Mushak, P; Sunderman FW Jr
HAPAB Atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for determination of thallium in urine, blood, serum, feces or tissues. The biological materials were digested with a mixture of sulfuric, nitric and perchloric acids. The thallic bromide obtained by the addition of bromine water to thallium was extracted into diethyl ether and the ether evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in dilute acid and aspirated into the flame of an atomic absorption spectrometer which was fitted with a thallium hollow cathode lamp and with a =Boling= burner. Analysis of thallium by atomic absorption was free from appreciable interference by sodium,potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, phosphate, ammonium, aluminum, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, silver, strontium, uranium and zinc. The coefficients of variation of duplicate analyses of thallium were 6.9% and 3.5% for urine samples containing 10 to 30 mcg of thallium/100 ml, and 90 to 150 mcg of thallium/100 ml, respectively. The mean recoveries of thallium added to urine, serum, liver and feces ranged from 95 to 107% and close correlation with analyses by a coulometric procedure was obtained. The atomic absorption procedure is recommended for emergency use in the diagnosis of thallotoxicosis, as well as for use in monitoring the response to chelation therapy in patients with thallium poisoning. ANALYSIS 68/12/00, 27 1968