Study on an exposure of a living body to rare earth elements and their intake into the body-Determination method for trace levels of rare earth elements in biological materials

摘要

Trace levels of rare earth elements in biological specimens such as human urine and blood plasma, and mouse liver were determined by microwave-induced plasma mass spectrometry combined with concentration method using cheating resin. Suitable digesting conditions and sample amounts loaded on the column were examined to improve the recovery rate. The concentrations of rare earth elements in mouse liver were lower than 0.5 ng/g, and those of cerium increased with age, suggesting a slight accumulation of rare earth elements from diet and/or environment. This method was also applied to urine from industrial workers treating rare earth elements and control.