Application of ICP-MS, INAA and RNAA to the determination of some "difficult" elements in infant formulas.

In this work a determination of selected elements in the infant formulas commercially available on the Polish market was done. 14 different materials (milk-based formulas and grain porridges) were analyzed. Both, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were applied for the determination of As, Cr, Fe and Se, which are recognized as the problematic elements for ICP-MS. For As and Se, the radiochemical NAA was also used. The daily intake of Se and Fe in the age 0-6 months for non-breast fed infants was estimated and compared with present safety limits.