Identification of potential environmental sources of childhood lead poisoning by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Verification and case studies

The isotopic determination of lead in blood and environmental materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the identification of potential sources of childhood lead poisoning. Sample preparation methods for blood, dust, paint, sediment and soil were evaluated and the recovery of total lead and the lead isotope composition of samples were determined. Verification of the measurement accuracy and precision was obtained for standard reference materials and a number of practical cases of childhood lead poisoning from an unknown source were studied.