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As metal/metalloid exposure is inevitable owing to its omnipresence, it may exert toxicity in humans. Recent advances in metal/metalloid analysis have been made moving from flame atomic absorption spectrometry and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry to the multi-elemental inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques as ICP atomic emission spectrometry and ICP-MS. ICP-MS has now emerged as a major technique in inorganic analytical chemistry owing to its flexibility, high sensitivity and good reproducibility. This in depth review explores the ICP-MS metallic profile in human toxicology. It is now routinely used and of great importance, in clinical toxicology and forensic toxicology to explore biological matrices, specifically whole blood, plasma, urine, hair, nail, biopsy samples and tissues.

In 2003, we simultaneously quantified 27 metals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the whole blood, plasma and urine of 100 healthy volunteers. We again determined the metallic profile in whole blood and plasma during 2012. ICP-MS validated multielementary method was performed for metals in whole blood and plasma. Whole blood vanadium and chromium were quantified using ICP-MS collision cell technology. The aims of the study were to compare and assess any changes in this profile, particularly due to the environment. Healthy male/female staff volunteers (n = 106) with no professional exposure to metals, or medication containing lithium, strontium; or food supplements with trace elements and vitamins and with no metal prosthesis were included. Tobacco consumption and the number of dental amalgams were recorded. Our results demonstrated a blood lead level that had drastically decreased, i.e. reduced by half, during this period (12.5 versus 26.3 µg/L, P < 0.0001). Known differences were observed between males and females for copper and zinc; cadmium and lead were higher in smokers. Median plasmatic mercury, a specific test for dental amalgam exposure, did not significantly increase (0.38 versus 0.28 µg/L, P = 0.11). The ICP-MS metallic profile is a very practical concept that is useful for clinical, forensic and environmental toxicology, including industrial hygiene monitoring.

Thirty-four metals were analyzed by ICP-MS. Among these elements, anthropogenic silver, gadolinium and platinum, were representative markers of medical activities in hospital and urban wastewater. On working days, median hospital wastewater concentrations for anthropogenic silver, gadolinium, and platinum were approximately three, 13 and 27 times higher respectively than the Municipal wastewater. A drastic reduction of their emission was observed during non-working days (minus 94 % for gadolinium and 87 % for platinum). A large percentage of these metals are not trapped in the Treatment Plant, i.e. 88 % for gadolinium and 69 % for platinum. More than 4 kg and 350 g for gadolinium and platinum are respectively discharged per year in the River Seine. Therefore, it is imperative to eliminate these elements in the Plant.

Considerable advances have been made in metals and metalloids analysis over the past decade. This analysis is a basic stage in deficiency or toxicity assessment. A recently introduced technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is progressively replacing atomic absorption. This analysis permits multi-elementary determinations, many ten or so elements, among periodic classification, with an optimal gain in sensitivity in many biological matrices: i.e. whole blood, plasma, urine, hair, nail, and biopsy samples. Moreover, this method allows semi-quantitative determination with an additional thirty supplementary elements, which enables the toxicologist to sufficiently estimate the toxic levels and metal exposure. The authors demonstrate that the ICP-MS could be very useful for a wide range of clinical applications. Furthermore, this procedure offers new exploration possibilities in various fields such as clinical chemistry but also clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology as well as workplace testing or environmental exposure and permits epidemiologic studies. This analytical method in fact also provides a new biologic approach. To our knowledge we are the first to propose the metallic profile.

Over the past decade great progress has been made in metals and metalloids analysis. This analysis is a basic stage in toxicity assessment and is indispensable in achieving a realistic evaluation of substance toxicity. A recently introduced technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is progressively replacing atomic absorption. This analysis permits multi-elementary determinations, approximately 30 elements, with an optimal gain in sensitivity in many biological matrices: i.e. whole blood, plasma, urine, hair, nail, biopsy samples. Moreover, this method allows semiquantitative determination with an additional 30 supplementary elements, which enables the toxicologist to sufficiently estimate the toxic levels and metal exposure. The authors demonstrate that the ICP-MS could be very useful for a wide range of clinical applications. Furthermore, this procedure offers new exploration possibilities in various fields such as clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology as well as work place testing or environmental exposure and permits epidemiologic studies. This analytical method in fact also provides a new scientific approach. To our knowledge we are the first to propose: the metallic profile.

The application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to multielement analysis in fingernail and toenail as biological indices for metal exposure is presented. The ICP-MS measurements were performed using a Thermo Elemental X7CCT series. Fingernail specimens were obtained from 130 healthy volunteers, and paired fingernail and toenail samples from 50 additional healthy volunteers of both sexes were collected as well. After warm water and acetone decontamination, 20 mg fingernails and toenails were acid mineralized after a decontamination procedure, and 32-34 elements were simultaneously quantified after acid dilution following water calibration. Li, Be, B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, La, Gd, W, Pt, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, and U could be validated in fingernail and toenail samples. Linearity was excellent, and the correlation coefficients were above 0.999. Quantification limits ranged from 0.04 pg/mg or ng/g (U) to 0.1 ng/mg or microg/g (B). Because of the lack of available certified nail reference material, an adequate quality assessment scheme was ensured by comparison with an interlaboratory nail-testing procedure, and the results showed optimal consistency for elements tested. Results are presented and compared with published multielement data. Six cases of domestic exposure to lead were diagnosed based on fingernail analysis. Application of ICP-MS multielement analysis in fingernail and toenail as a biomarker of metal and nonmetal exposure permits greater noninvasive control of industrial, domestic, or environmental exposure and is very useful for epidemiological studies.

Four multi-elementary metal and metalloid quantification methods using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were developed and validated in human whole blood, plasma, urine and hair by means of a single preparation procedure for each sample. The ICP-MS measurements were performed using a Thermo Elemental X7CCT series and PlasmaLab software without a dynamic reaction cell. With this procedure 27-32 elements can be simultaneously quantified in biological matrices: Li, Be, B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, W, Pt, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, U. Whole blood, plasma and urine samples (0.4 ml each) were diluted with purified water, acid, triton X100 and butanol. Rhodium was used as internal standard. The urine sample results were corrected for enzymatic creatinine determination. Twenty-five milligrams hair samples were acid mineralized after a decontamination procedure and diluted as previously described for biological fluids. To be validated, each element had to show linearity with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.99. The intra-assay and inter-assay inaccuracy, measured as the variation coefficient, were below 5 and 10% respectively. Global performance was assessed by a quality control program. Our laboratory is a registered participant of the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (Sainte-Foy, Canada) inter-laboratory comparison program for whole blood, urine, and beard hair of non-occupationally exposed individuals spiked with selected elements. In our study multi-element metal and metalloid analysis was assessed for 27 elements in whole blood, 27 elements in plasma, 30 elements in urine and 32 elements in hair, from 0 to 25, or 250 to 1000 ng/ml, depending on the element. Quantification limits ranged from 0.002 ng/ml (U) to 8.1 ng/ml (Al) for whole blood, from 0.002 ng/ml (U) to 7.7 ng/ml (Al) for plasma, from 0.001 ng/ml (U) to 2.2 ng/ml (Se) for urine, and from 0.2 pg/mg (Tl) to 0.5 ng/mg (B) for hair. Normal values were determined in whole blood (n=100), plasma (n=100), urine (n=100), and hair (n=45) of healthy volunteers, leading to approximately 10,000 analyses. All results are presented and discussed. Clinical toxicology and forensic toxicology applications are also reported. ICP-MS has made significant advances in the field of clinical biology, particularly in toxicological analysis. This is due to the use of extremely effective equipment that permits better clinical and forensic toxicological analysis of metal and metalloid status of each individual patient.

Abstract: Over the past decade great progress has been made in metals and metalloids analysis. This analysis is a basic stage in toxicity assessment and is indispensable in achieving a realistic evaluation of substance toxicity. A recently introduced technique, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is progressively replacing atomic absorption. This analysis permits multi-elementary determinations, approximately 30 elements, with an optimal gain in sensitivity in many biological matrices: i.e. whole blood, plasma, urine, hair, nail, biopsy samples. Moreover, this method allows semiquantitative determination with an additional 30 supplementary elements, which enables the toxicologist to sufficiently estimate the toxic levels and metal exposure. The authors demonstrate that the ICP-MS could be very useful for a wide range of clinical applications. Furthermore, this procedure offers new exploration possibilities in various fields such as clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology as well as work place testing or environmental exposure and permits epidemiologic studies. This analytical method in fact also provides a new scientific approach. To our knowledge we are the first to propose: the metallic profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]