Determination of arsenic in blood and stomach contents by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) was used and evaluated for the practical analysis of the arsenic content of body fluid samples without ashing. The calibration curve for arsenic in blood solution was shown to have good sensitivity, linearity and reproducibility. Blood obtained from normal volunteers was determined by ICP/MS, and compared with that determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The arsenic contents determined by ICP/MS showed a linear correlation with that determined by AAS. Furthermore, arsenic was determined in the blood and supernatant of stomach contents obtained from a suicide autopsy case resulting from ingestion of an arsenic compound. It was therefore concluded that ICP/MS could be used rapidly and conveniently in the field of forensic toxicology in acute metal poisoning cases.