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Pure Appl. Chem., 2006, Vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 69-78

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200678010069

Uptake of platinum-group elements with the diet: A preliminary investigation

Chiara Frazzoli, Roberta Cammarone and Sergio Caroli

Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy

Abstract:
Over the past decade, the increasing use of car catalytic converters based on platinum-group elements (PGEs) has been raising more and more concern. Human exposure to these metals occurs indirectly also through the diet. Thus, a pilot investigation was undertaken in order to ascertain the actual intake of PGEs through bread and cow milk. All manipulations were performed in a Class-100 clean room so as to minimize the risk of sample contamination. Digestion of samples was achieved by means of a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 with the assistance of microwave irradiation.
Determinations were performed by sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) to quantify Pd, Pt, and Rh. The isotopes 105Pd+, 103Rh+, and 195Pt+ were used for the quantification. Major interferences were caused by 40Ar65Cu+ on 105Pd+, 179Hf16O+ on 195Pt+, and 87Rb16O+ and 87Sr16O+ on 103Rh+. Both physical and mathematical approaches for the interference correction were used. The mean values for PGEs were found to be as follows (in ng kg-1): full-cream milk: Pd, 3790; Pt, 83.2; Rh, 1680; skim milk: Pd, 12 400; Pt, 83.6; Rh, 1090; wholemeal bread: Pd, 3210; Pt, 171; Rh, 139; white bread: Pd, 27 400; Pt, 257; Rh, 2230. The preliminary data obtained in this study are probative of the significant portion of the total exposure to PGEs, which is due to the diet.