OBJECTIVE: To establish an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method for determination of 24 elements in human hair. METHODS: The samples were digested with microwave digestion instrument. ICP-MS was applied to determine 24 elements in human hair using indium (115In) as an internal standard. The established method was applied to determine element concentration in normal group (56 samples) and heroin abuse group (10 samples). RESULTS: The limits of detection ranged from 0.000 3 microg/g to 10.14 microg/g. Measured value of the standard materials were basically consistent with the standard value. The contents of magnesium, gallium and barium in hair of heroin addicts decreased after rehabilitation treatment. CONCLUSION The method is sensitive and accurate for determination of 24 elements in human hair.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Barium/analysis* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gallium/analysis* ; Hair/chemistry* ; Heroin Dependence/rehabilitation* ; Humans ; Magnesium/analysis* ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Metals, Heavy/analysis* ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Trace Elements/analysis* ; Young Adult