This study aimed to determine heavy metal contents in sesame oil samples produced in Korea through microwave-assisted acid digestion without using an emulsifier. Three heavy metal, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in twelve sesame oil samples were determined by ICP-MS. The validation of analysis method was checked by standard addition method (10 and 100 µg/kg). As a result, linearity (R 2 ) was above 0.999 and RSDs were lower than 4%. The recovery of Cd, Pb and As ranged between

more »

... .6%, 100.3-101.3%, and 102.1-111.2%, respectively. The detected ranges in sesame oil samples were as follows; N.D. to 0.109 µg/g for Cd, 0.014 to 0.200 µg/ g for Pb and 0.014 to 0.125 µg/g for As, respectively. Therefore, sesame seeds and products grown in heavy metalpolluted regions which are used as food should be given priority attention and consideration. Materials and Methods Reagents Analytical grade reagents of nitric acid (Dongwoo Fine-Chem, Kyounggi, Korea) and hydrogen peroxide (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) were used in the acid digestions. Each standard solution of As, Cd and Pb was prepared by diluting with 2% (v/v) nitric acid. To avoid contamination from various ions, all sorts of laboratory glasswares and plastic