Fifteen breast-feeding mothers who volunteered for a study of trace elements in human milk, kept two 7-day food records during the course of lactation. The 1st survey week ranged from 6 to 8 weeks and the 2nd survey week from 17 to 22 weeks postpartum. The milk samples submitted for analysis represented a sample of every feed during a period of 24 hr and contained foremilk and hindmilk in equal...

The role of reference materials (RMs) in analytical quality assurance (QA) is outlined with special emphasis on trace element analysis of foodstuff. Crucial aspects for the development of such food RMs are illustrated by a recent example of trace elements in rice flour. Major influences on the uncertainty of certified values are discussed and possibilities to enhance the availability and fitnes...

Trace element profiles for common divalent cations (Sr, Zn, Ba), rare-earth elements (REE), Y, U, and Th were measured in fossil bones and teeth from the c. 25 ka Merrell locality, Montana, USA, by using laser-ablation ICP-MS. Multiple traverses in teeth were transformed into 2-D trace element maps for visualizing structural influences on trace element uptake. Trace element compositions of diff...

Total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) has achieved remarkable success with the advantages of simultaneous multi-element analysis capability, decreased background noise, no matrix effects, wide dynamic range, ease of operation, and potential of trace analysis. Simultaneous quantitative online analysis of trace heavy metals is urgently required by dynamic environmental monitoring and managem...

The dynamic interplay between preparation, handling, containment, and analysis of ultrapure chemical standards and reagents for the clinical chemistry laboratory is described. Inorganic as well as organic standards are reviewed. The contamination problems associated with water, acids, and solvents in trace-element analysis are defined and resolved. In addition, less well-known sources of error ...