A simple method for direct mercury analysis in dried blood spots (DBS) samples for human biomonitoring studies

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107958
• Publication Date: 2023-05-15T10:43:37Z
• Authors: Juana María Gonzá...; Noelia Domínguez-...; Susana Pedraza-Díaz; Ana Cañas Portilla; Miguel Ángel Lucena; Ana Rodriguez; Argelia Castaño; Marta Esteban-López
• Keywords: Venipuncture; Dried blood spot; Mercury; Dried blood; Blood sampling; Venous blood; Human blood

Human exposure to mercury can have serious health effects, especially in vulnerable groups such as children and fetuses. The use of dried blood spot (DBS) samples collect capillary greatly facilitates sample collection fieldwork, being a less invasive alternative by venipuncture, needing small volume sample, does not require specialized medical staff. Moreover, DBS sampling reduces logistical financial barriers related transport storage samples. We propose here novel method analyze total Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA) that allow the control This has shown good results terms precision (<6% error), accuracy (<10% coefficient variation) recovery (75-106%). applicability human biomonitoring (HBM) was demonstrated pilot study involving 41 adults aged 18-65. concentrations from collected finger prick (real samples) were determined DMA compared with those whole (venous blood) ICP-MS, usually used HBM. procedure also validated comparison real generated artificially laboratory depositing venous cellulose cards (laboratory DBS). There no statistically significant differences obtained using both methodologies (DMA: Geometric Mean (confidence interval 95%) = 3.87 (3.12-4.79) µg/L; ICP-MS: 3.46 (2.80-4.27) µg/L). proposed is an excellent be applied clinical settings screening methodology for assessing groups, us pregnant woman, babies children.