On May 25,1978, the Commission on Toxicology ofthe Division of Clinical Chemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) established its Subcommittee on Environmental and Occupational Toxicology of Cadmium following aseries of Commission meetings in Kristiansand, Norway. I was appointed chairman ofthe new Subcommittee by the Commission on Toxicology (chairman at that time F. w. Sun derman Jr. ) in which I served from 1977 as an Associate Member and from 1979 as a Titular Member. From the beginning the Cadmium Subcommittee aimed not only at bringing together cadmium experts from around the world for scientific discussions but also at assessing, improving and the harmonization of analysis of cadmium. Due to the membership of many laboratories of the world engaged in scientific and analytical work on cadmium, and following some preliminary studies in a few laboratories from Sweden, The Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany, the Cadmium Subcommittee conducted from 1979 to 1985 four international interlaboratory surveys on cadmium analysis in body fluids. Two studies have been performed for cadmium in human and lyophilized bovine blood (1979 to 1980 and 1981) and another two for cadmium in artificial and human urines (1983 and 1985). At present in collaboration with the Selenium Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Harmonization of Methods, a 5th survey for cadmium, lead and mercury in lyophilized human blood and serum reference materials is con ducted."

Probenahme und Probenaufschluss wollen gelernt sein, denn von ihnen hangt die Qualitat der chemischen Analyse ab. Das korrekte Vorgehen vermittelt Ihnen dieses Laborbuch. Strategien zur zeitlichen und raumlichen Auswahl reprasentativer Proben werden ebenso behandelt wie die Prinzipien und Probleme der Druckaufschlussmethoden. Die Beschreibung reicht von Materialien aus der Umwelt uber Lebensmittel bis zu Humanmaterial.

The execution of detailed studies on the fate and levels of hazardous elements in the environment, foodstuffs and in human beings has become a major task in environmental research and especially in analytical chemistry. This has led to a demand to develop new methodology and optimize that already in use.

The book offers the reader a general introduction to the problem areas that are currently being tackled, followed by chapters on sampling and sample preservation, strategies and applications of the archiving of selected representative specimens for long-term storage in environmental specimen banks. This is supplemented by the example of wine as a preserved - frequently, already historical - specimen which clearly reflects technological changes over time. The following chapters review sample treatment, present an overview on the most frequently and successfully applied trace analytical methods for metals and metal compounds, and introduce the increasingly important methods for identifying and quantifying metal species in sediments and soils (speciation).

The chapters in the second part of the book provide data on analytical methods for determining the levels of toxicologically, ecotoxicologically and ecologically important elements in environmental and biological materials, including information on the separation and quantification of chemical and organomatallic species. The elements treated are aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium and thallium. The final chapter treats quality assurance and the importance of the continuous use of appropriate reference materials to avoid erroneous results.

The major theme of this book is analytical approaches to trace metal and speciation analysis in biological specimens. The emphasis is on the reliable determination of a number of toxicologically and environmentally important metals. It is essentially a handbook based on the practical experience of each individual author. The scope ranges from sampling and sample preparation to the application of various modern and well-documented methods, including quality assessment and control and statistical treatment of data. Practical advice on avoiding sample contamination is included.

In the first part, the reader is offered an introduction into the basic principles and methods, starting with sampling, sample storage and sample treatment, with the emphasis on sample decomposition. This is followed by a description of the potential of atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic emission spectrometry, voltammetry, neutron activation analysis, isotope dilution analysis, and the possibilities for metal speciation in biological specimens. Quality control and all approaches to achieve reliable data are treated in chapters about interlaboratory and intralaboratory surveys and reference methods, reference materials and statistics and data evaluation.

The chapters of the second part provide detailed information on the analysis of thirteen trace metals in the most important biological specimens. The following metals are treated in great detail: Aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, manganese, nickel, mercury, thallium, vanadium and zinc.

The book will serve as a valuable aid for practical analysis in biomedical laboratories and for researchers involved with trace metal and species analysis in clinical, biochemical and environmental research.