As lead is toxic to humans, the permitted level of it in foods and drugs is strictly regulated. Highly sensitive furnace atomization atomic absorption spectrometry, which uses a platform tube to achieve accurate measurements without the addition of oxygen or air, is effective for the analysis of lead.
Toxic elements (arsenic, lead, cadmium, etc.) in foods must be controlled down to low concentration levels. Furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry can measure these elements down to ppb trace levels. This technique also allows direct analysis of liquid foods without pretreatment.
