Carpth. J. of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2008 Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 23-30 ESTIMATING UNCERTAINTY AND QUALITY OF LEAD DETERMINANTION IN HUMAN BLOOD Daniela BOROŠOVÁ, Regional Authority of Public Health, Department of chemical analyses Cesta k nemocnici 1, 975 56 Banská Bystrica Zuzana KLÖSLOVÁ, Regional Authority of Public Health, Department of risk assessment and genetic toxicology Cesta k nemocnici 1, 975 56 Banská Bystrica Marek DRIMAL Matej Bel University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Environmental Management, Tajovského 40, 974 01 Banská Bystrica Abstract: Estimating uncertainty and quality of lead determination in blood. The method for the direct determination of lead by AAS in whole human blood is presented. The previous experience and validation data are suggested as sources of performance information. The method recovery, sample recovery, homogeneity, precision and calibration were included to estimate measurement uncertainty compliant with ISO/IEC 17025 : 2005. The results of measurements using this method have uncertainty (52-23)% in the working range (70 – 700) g.l -1 . Keywords: blood, lead, uncertainty, biomonitoring, human exposure to Pb 1. INTRODUCTION Exposure to lead presents a significant hazard in the onset of serious intoxication. There still are certain jobs, hobbies and foods that are more likely to be associated with lead. Potentially high levels of lead may occur in the lead smelting and refining industries, battery manufacturing plants, steel welding or cutting operations. Lead is a potent, systemic poison that causes unknown harm once absorbed by body (NIOSH, 2005). Significant portion of the lead that is inhaled or ingested, gets into blood stream (ATSDR, 2005). Once in blood stream, lead circulates throughout body and stored in various organs and body tissues. Some of this lead is quickly filtered out of body and excreted, but some remains in the blood and other tissues. When exposure to lead continues, the amount stored in body increases if absorption of lead is higher than excretion (ATSDR, 2005). 23