Iodine and Bromine Analysis in Human Urine and Serum by ICP-MS, Tailored for High-Throughput Routine Analysis in Population-Based Studies
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis and is particularly critical during pregnancy, where excess and mainly its deficiencies can impair fetal neurodevelopment and increase maternal complications. Bromine has also gained attention due to its potential to interfere with iodine metabolism and contribute to adverse health effects when present in excess. Monitoring iodine and bromine in biological samples, especially urine and serum, is therefore important for assessing thyroid function and population health. This work presents a simple and robust ICP-MS method for simultaneous determination of bromine and iodine in urine and serum. The procedure uses a 20-fold dilution with 10 mmol L−1 ammonia containing 0.1% (w/w) EDTA-2Na, ensuring solution stability, minimizing sample-to-sample variability, and eliminating the need for matrix-matched calibration. EDTA-2Na effectively prevents precipitation of metal species at high pH, avoiding blockages in the sample introduction system. Method accuracy was confirmed through certified reference materials and spike-recovery experiments, both showing suitable agreement for the two analytes. Precision was consistently strong (RSD < 6%), and low detection limits were achieved (0.78 μg L−1 for Br and 0.24 μg L−1 for I). The use of a high-efficiency nebulizer enabled analysis with only 50 µL of sample, making the method suitable for limited-volume specimens. Overall, this approach provides a sensitive, accurate, and practical solution for large-scale population studies and clinical applications.
Institution: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
Awards: G1974852530, Prenatal metal mixtures and neurodevelopment: Role of placental extracellular microRNAs, Mount Sinai ECHO site for Perinatal Environment and Development Studies, G7222824768, G764521083, Examining Mitigating Effects of Diet on Associations among Metals and Early Childhood Psychiatric Problems, G9000150086, G9000280754, G9000298981, Mount Sinai Center for Health and Environment Across the LifeSpan (HEALS)
OpenAlex ID: W7118857441