12 Final thoughts
There is no question that developments in atomic spectroscopy have helped us better understand the toxicity effects of lead over the past 50 years. As Figure 3 clearly demonstrates, there is a direct correlation between the lowering of the CDC blood-lead levels and the detection capability of ICP-MS. It has allowed us to lower the clinical practice threshold level of 60 µL/dL in the mid-1960s to the current blood lead reference value (BLRV) of 3.5 µL/dL.
More importantly, it has helped to reduce elevated blood levels of children in the U. S., from 26% in the early-mid-1990s to less than 2.5% today, as well as allowing us to get a much better understanding of the environmental sources of lead contamination. However, such is the power and versatility of modern atomic spectroscopy instrumentation and its accessories, that it has also dramatically improved our understanding of other trace metal-related human diseases. The toxic effects of trivalent/pentavalent arsenic and hexavalent chromium would still be relatively unknown, if it wasn’t for the continual improvements in ICP-MS and in particular, its use as a very sensitive detector for trace element speciation studies using chromatographic separation technology.
Even though ICP-MS has been successfully applied to many application areas since it was first commercialised in 1983, its use as a biomedical, clinical and toxicological research tool has had a direct impact on the quality of many people’s lives.
Robert Thomas, Scientific Solutions
• 4615 Sundown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20882, USA • Tel (Cell): (1) 301-717-0900 • Email:
robert.james.thomas@
verizon.net • Web:
www.scientificsolutions1.com Robert (Rob) Thomas is the principal of Scientific Solutions, a consulting company that serves the educational needs of the trace element user community. He has worked in the field of atomic and mass spectroscopy for more than 45 years, including 24 years for a manufacturer of atomic spectroscopic instrumentation. He has served on the American Chemical Society (ACS) Committee on Analytical Reagents (CAR) for the past 20 years as leader of the plasma spectrochemistry, heavy metals task force, where he has worked very closely with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) to align ACS heavy metal testing procedures with pharmaceutical guidelines. Rob has written overt 100 technical publications, including a 15-part tutorial series on ICP-MS. He is also the editor and frequent contributor of the Atomic Perspectives column in Spectroscopy magazine, as well as serving on the editorial advisory board of Analytical Cannabis and Technology Networks. In addition, Rob has authored 6 textbooks on the fundamental principles and applications of ICP-MS. His most recent book published in October 2023 is entitled, Practical Guide to ICP-MS and Other Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques: A Tutorial for Beginners. Rob has an advanced degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Wales, UK, and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Chartered Chemist (CChem).
Read, Share and Comment on this Article, visit:
www.labmate-online.com Why a reference with a calibration certificate is not necessarily a CRM
Instrument qualification using CRMs from an appropriately accredited supplier is the first step towards data integrity. Indeed, the choice of CRM supplier is as important as the choice of CRM. A supplier’s Schedule of Accreditation should be checked to confirm that it includes the reference material to be purchased - it may not,
Furthermore, it is now recommended that instrument qualification measurements are conducted over the operational range required for the analysis. A laboratory performing measurements over a wide wavelength or photometric range will likely require several different CRMs to cover each instrument parameter.
According to ISO, a fully accredited CRM supplier should be accredited to both ISO 17034:2016 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Standards.
In 2001, Starna Scientific became the first company worldwide to achieve ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the calibration of liquid and glass CRMs for UV- visible spectrophotometry, and in 2006, the company became the first and only supplier of spectrophotometry references accredited to both standards.
All Starna’s CRMs are supplied with a certificate showing the traceability of the certified value to Standard Reference Materials (SRM) and a statement of the measurement uncertainty, as required by the ISO definition of a CRM.
Starna Scientific are committed to the process of continuous improvement demanded by those standards and look forward to another 20 years as the preferred supplier to many of the leading pharmaceutical companies, instrument manufacturers and accredited laboratories worldwide. More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/LVEw
New energy efficient laboratory nitrogen generator
Following the launch of the newest addition to its laboratory gas generator portfolio, Peak Scientific is pleased to announce it can now take orders for Horizen 24, the most energy efficient nitrogen generator for Single Quad LC-MS.
Peak Scientific is the industry-leader in laboratory gas generators and, with Horizen 24, have brought to market a solution that will save laboratories money, space and environmental impact whilst enhancing gas quality and reliability.
Designed for Single Quad LC-MS, Horizen 24 combines a number of proprietary technologies to provide the ideal solution for nitrogen gas supply; the culmination of over 25 years’ dedication to manufacturing nitrogen generation solutions for LC-MS.
Horizen 24 has been designed with new technology inside, including heat optimisation technology to protect the membrane from water droplets, enhancing performance and reliability in the gas stream. This exciting innovation also houses advanced multi-stage purification to produce ultra-dry, high-purity nitrogen gas for LC-MS analysis.
With demand growing, Peak Scientific set out to manufacture the most energy-efficient nitrogen generator on the market in the smallest footprint in its class. Using up to 55% less energy, Horizen 24 can save labs on power consumption and with over 50% less heat output, even lab’s air conditioning costs can be reduced. Horizen 24 can also help labs to minimize their operational carbon footprint compared to cylinders and equivalent generator models.
Fraser Dunn, Peak Scientific’s Head of Design Engineering, said of the launch: “Horizen 24 has truly been a giant leap for us at Peak in the benefits we can provide to labs around the world with this latest nitrogen generator for Single Quad LC-MS.
“The generator has been fitted with a number of new technologies which have been rigorously tested to achieve better energy efficiency than any other single quad nitrogen generator on the market. We’ve not only reduced the cost of ownership for labs, we’ve produced a nitrogen generator that is significantly smaller than its predecessor without compromising on quality, reliability or purity.”
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/XOp3 62186pr@reply-direct.com References
1. Practical Guide to ICP-MS and Other Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques A Tutorial for Beginners, 4th Edition, R.J. Thomas, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN – 978-1-032-03502-4 2. Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children, Chapter 2: Absorption of Lead, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1991,
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/publications/books/plpyc/contents.htm 3. H. L. Needham, Case Studies in Environmental Medicine-Lead Toxicity, U. S. Dpt. of Health and Human Services (1990) 4. Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children, Lead Information Page, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm 5. Childhood Blood Lead Levels in Children Aged <5 Years: United States, 2009–2014, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Surveillance Summaries / January 20, 2017 / 66 (3);1–10, https://www.
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/ss/ss6603a1.htm 6. CDC Response to Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Recommendations in “Low Level Lead Exposure Harms Children: A Renewed Call of Primary Prevention” (2012) ,
https://www.cdc. gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/
blood_lead_levels.htm 7. Record of Proceedings from the Meeting of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Subcommittee of the NCEH/ ATSDR Board of Scientific Counselors, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, September 19, 2016 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), October 7, 2016 / 65(39); 1089, Source: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES);
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm. 9. S. Constantini, R. Giordano, M. Rubbing. Journal of Microchemistry, 35,70 (1987) 10. H. T. Delves, Analyst, 95, 431 (1970) 11. S. Cabet, J. M. Ottoway and G. S. Fell, Research and Development Topics in Analytical Chemistry, Proc. Analyt. Div. Chem. Soc., 300 (1977) 12. W. Slavin, Sci. Total Environ., 71, 17 (1988) 13. Quality Assurance of Chemical Measurements, 1st Edition, J. K. Taylor; CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, ISBN 9780873710978, (1987)
55371pr@reply-direct.com
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