This new, self-contained volume covers in a critical, exhaustive, and in-depth manner the progress in AAS determinations of 55 chemical elements in 42 individual chapters, with an emphasis on the latest instrumental and methodological developments. These include Zeeman background correction, the Stabilized Temperature Platform Atomizer (STPA), flow-injection and continuous-flow approaches, slurry and solid sampling, efficient chemical modification, on-line sample pretreatment/enrichment, speciation, availability of QC materials, alternative analytical techniques, and more.
A key to this vast application area is provided by well-organized tabulated information, including outlines of 782 selected AAS procedures for analysis of blood, serum, urine, hair, nail, teeth, tissues, food, and other relevant biological specimens. More than 2100 AAS papers are included in a unique bibliography of 3223 up-to-date references spanning the last 13 years.
This monograph was originally anticipated to consist of only one volume (!) but, following the suggestions of the referees and considering the importance of the vast area of biological trace element research, two comprehensive volumes were prepared in 1983 and 1984, and were followed by a second printing in 1985. During the decade after publication of these volumes, the author gradually became convinced that the preparation of an updated text would certainly be justified. A real surge in studies and publications on trace elements in biological materials has occurred.