Objective: To explore the feasibility of the detection of metal elements of skin in electric injury using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and to establish a method to detect metal elements of skin in electric injury.
Methods: Brass, copper, aluminum and iron were used as electrodes to make electrical marks on rabbit hindlimb (220V AC), and then ICP-MS was used to detect the metal elements in injured skin.
Results: Comparing with control group,the levels of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb showed higher in the group of brass shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Cr, Cu and Pb were higher in group of the copper shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Al, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb displayed stronger in group of aluminum shock (P < 0.05); the levels of Cr, Mn, Fe and Ni showed higher in the group of iron shock (P < 0.05). The types and levels of metal elements showed the significant difference between different electrode groups after electric injury.
Conclusion: ICP-MS can be used as an effective tool to determine electric injury, and the method can be used to estimate the features of electrodes.