Defense Date

11-3-2011

Graduation Date

Fall 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair

H. M. Skip Kingston

Committee Member

Lynne Divis

Committee Member

Rita Mihailescu

Committee Member

Stephanie Wetzel

Keywords

Autism, ICP-MS, Isotope dilution, LC/MS/MS, Mass spectrometry, Speciation

Abstract

Previous work by our research group demonstrated that quantitative chemical analysis of analytes, such as mercury and chromium species, in environmental matrices could be successfully carried out without using calibration curves and with correction for species interconversion by using EPA Method 6800A. This method encompasses isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) and speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry (SIDMS), both of which are described in detail in chapter 1. Research described in this dissertation expands upon our earlier work by applying the method to the speciation of mercury in biological matrices, the speciation of glutathione in red blood cells and whole blood, and the analysis of enzyme activity in mammalian tissue.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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