Persistent sample circulation microextraction combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy for trace determination of heavy metals in fish species marketed in Kermanshah, Iran, and human health risk assessment

Abstract BACKGROUND Persistent sample circulation microextraction (PSCME) combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was developed as a high pre‐concentration technique for the determination of heavy metals in fish species. In this method, a few microliters of organic solvent (40.0 µL carbon tetrachloride) was transferred to the bottom of a conical sample cup. Then 10.0 mL of aqueous solution was transformed to fine droplets while passing through the organic solvent. At this stage, metal–ligand hydrophobic complex was extracted into the organic solvent. After extraction, 20 µL of extraction solvent was injected into the graphite tube using an auto‐sampler. RESULTS Under optimal conditions, enrichment factors and enhancement factor were in the range of 180–240 and 155–214, respectively. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.03–200 µg kg –1 and the limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.01–0.05 µg kg –1 . Repeatability (intra‐day) and reproducibility (inter‐day) for 0.50 µg L –1 Hg and 0.10 µg L –1 Cd and Pb were in the range of 3.1–4.2% ( n = 7) and 4.3–6.1% ( n = 7), respectively. CONCLUSION Potential human health risk assessment was conducted by calculating estimated weekly intake (EWI) of the metals from eating fish and comparison of these values with provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values. EWI data for the studied metals through fish consumption were lower than the PTWI values. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry