Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry of cadmium in semen.

We describe the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry of cadmium in rabbit semen collected before and after seven days of subcutaneous administration of 0.5 mg of cadmium per kilogram body weight per day. The analytical technique involves combining an aliquot of an acid-digested semen sample with an equal volume of an (NH4)2HOP4 solution (50 g/L), to allow an increase in charring temperature, which results in more nearly complete destruction of matrix. Cadmium values as determined by this method correlated well with those determined by the method of standard additions. The dosing regimen resulted in a statistically significant (p < 0.01) increase in cadmium concentrations in semen (and whole blood) sampled just after the last day of cadmium administration.