A rapid approach for assessment of arsenic exposure by elemental analysis of single strand of hair using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Application of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) as a method for identification of arsenic in a single hair strand was investigated. Using a single point ablation method detectability of 75As and other two elements (208Pb and 64Zn) were evaluated. Arsenic (75As) signal is improved with enhanced laser ablation conditions. For the arsenic determination in hair single spots or single linear scans with enhanced laser ablation conditions described in the paper are satisfactory although ∼ 800 μm linear scans may be preferable. Arsenic levels in a single strand of hair from individuals who were chronically exposed to arsenic contaminated drinking water from a village in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile were determined by LA-ICP-MS. These results were satisfactorily correlated with total As concentration previously measured by hydride generation (HG)-ICP-MS. The sample throughput is high and it takes ∼ 3 min per each hair sample including mounting, focusing and analysis. LA-ICP-MS method can be used for the rapid identification and screening of toxic and nutritionally important elements in hair.