Application of ICP-MS and HPLC-ICP–MS for diagnosis and therapy of a severe intoxication with hexavalent chromium and inorganic arsenic

ICP-MS and HPLC-ICP–MS were applied for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in a severe intoxication with a liquid containing hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and inorganic arsenic (iAs). In this rare case a liver transplantation of was considered as the only chance of survival. We developed and applied methods for the determination of Cr(VI) in erythrocytes and total chromium (Cr) and arsenic (As) in blood, plasma, urine and liver tissue by ICP-MS. Exposure to iAs was diagnosed by determination of iAs species and their metabolites in urine by anion exchange HPLC-ICP–MS. Three days after ingestion of the liquid the total Cr concentrations were 2180 and 1070 μg/L in whole blood and plasma, respectively, and 4540 μg/L Cr(VI) in erythrocytes. The arsenic concentration in blood was 206 μg/L. The urinary As species concentrations were <0.5, 109, 115, 154 and 126 μg/L for arsenobetaine, As(III), As(V), methylarsonate (V) and dimethylarsinate (V), respectively. Total Cr and As concentrations in the explanted liver were 11.7 and 0.9 mg/kg, respectively. Further analytical results of this case study are tabulated and provide valuable data for physicians and toxicologists.