Instrumental thermal neutron activation analysis of tobacco

A group of 27 tobacco samples was submitted to INAA. Bowen's Kale was analyzed with the samples. The resulting data for 21 elements in tobacco were processed by a cluster programme. This combination proves to be a convenient tool for discrimination within one group of samples.     

Determination of heavy metals in air conditioner dust using FAAS and INAA

The elements Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in dust samples collected from air conditioner (AC) filters from 15 commercial sites of Lahore using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The elements Cr, Mn and Zn were also determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The results obtained showed that higher amounts of these metals were measured in these dust samples than normally found in soil. This was especially true for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Generally the amounts of Cd, Cr and Mn did not vary throughout the city of Lahore but the amounts of the traffic related Cu, Pb and Zn elements had the more variable ranges of 30–140, 30–230 and 74–2810 mg/kg respectively. The concentrations obtained for Cr, Mn and Zn by INAA were found to be higher than those obtained using FAAS. Analysis of the data obtained showed the digestion procedure employed to be the possible cause for this occurrence. It was also found that Mn was being over-estimated by INAA due to the interference from the Mg peak.     

Application of the Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence technique to trace elements determination in tobacco

Many studies have identified an important number of toxic elements along with organic carcinogen molecules and radioactive isotopes in tobacco. In this work we have analyzed by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence 9 brands of cigarettes being manufactured and distributed in the Mexican market. Two National Institute of Standards and Technology standards and a blank were equally treated at the same time. Results show the presence of some toxic elements such as Pb and Ni. These results are compared with available data for some foreign brands, while their implications for health are discussed. It can be confirmed that the Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence method provides precise (reproducible) and accuracy (trueness) data for 15 elements concentration in tobacco samples.     

Characterization of Indian cigarette tobacco and its smoke aerosol by nuclear and allied techniques

Forty brands of tobacco used in Indian cigarettes, 20 brands of bidis (tobacco rolled in wrapper leaves), 15 brands of chewing tobacco and 15 brands of snuff tobacco were analyzed by nuclear and allied techniques. The elements measured into tobacco can be grouped into seven categories from less than 1 ppm to 5% by weight. Concentration level varied from 0.5-5% for (Ca, K, Cl), 400-1500 ppm (Fe), 200-600 ppm (Na), 100-300 ppm (Ti, Mn, Br and Sr), 10-100 ppm (Cu, Zn and Rb), 1-10 ppm (Cr, Ni, Pb and La) and less than 1 ppm (As, Co, Cd, Sb, Hg and Eu). Among the above elements Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Pb, Hg and Sb are considered toxic. The percentage transfer of the elements from cigarette tobacco to smoke particles during smoking was also estimated using a smoking machine and collecting the smoke particles on a filter paper. The results show that Br, Cr, Sb and Zn have high percentage transfer from tobacco to its smoke of the order of 2-15%. Out of these Sb has the highest 15%. Cobalt, Fe and Sc have lowest percentage of transfer of the order of less than 1%. The percent transfer of these elements from tobacco to tobacco smoke is higher in case of bidis (1.5-3.0 times) as compared to cigarettes. In cigarettes also non-filter cigarettes have higher transfer (2-3 times) as compared to filter tip cigarettes.     

Elemental concentrations in sediments of the Patras Harbour, Greece, using INAA, ICP-MS and AAS

Twenty marine sediment samples, selected downcore from six sediment cores, which were retrieved from the Patras Harbour, were studied for their elemental composition using three analytical techniques: INAA, ICP-MS and AAS. Standard reference materials were used to verify the accuracy of the analysis techniques. In total, the concentrations of 30 major, minor and trace elements were measured. The vertical distribution of most elements in the examined cores could be characterized as relatively uniform. The eastern part of the harbour seems to be more polluted in respect to some elements (Ag, Br, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) compared to the western one. The concentrations of a number of elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) determined in the sediment samples of the present work are discussed regarding to those obtained from other harbours in the world and compared against sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) to assess the ecotoxicological significance of the sediment contaminants to benthic biota.     

Determination of minor, trace and toxic elements in chewing tobacco products by instrumental neutron activation analysis and identification of glutamic acid

Tobacco smoking/chewing has been a cause of concern because of it being related with oral cancer. It causes stimulation and ill physiological effects. Ten different brands of spit tobacco, eight gutkaas and five paan masalas have been analyzed for seven minor (Al, Na, K, Ca, Cl, Mg, and P) and 17 trace (As, Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Fe, Hg, La, Mn, Rb, Sb, Sc, Th, and Zn) elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Also Ni and Pb were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Concentration of Cd was below detection limit (<10?mg?kg^?1) in the tobacco samples. Mg, generally added as MgCO₃ to prevent caking, is present as minor constituent in spit tobacco and gutkaas but is below detection limit (<1?g?kg^?1) in paan masalas. Most elemental concentrations vary in a wide range depending on the nature of chewing tobacco. Spit tobacco has been found to be more enriched in essential elements (Ca, K, Na, P, Mn, and Rb), whereas gutkaas contain higher concentrations of Fe, Cr, Cu, and Zn. Paan masalas contain lower contents of other elements but higher content of Hg. Gutkaas also contain higher amounts of As and Pb. Further glutamic acid has been separated from tobacco leaves and characterized as it might bind with some elements.     

Mineral profile of Ghanaian dried tobacco leaves and local snuff: A comparative study

The concentration of thirty-four elements each in Ghanaian dried tobacco leaves and snuff (powdered tobacco) have been determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The concentration of Hg, Cr, As and Cd in both set of samples were found to be in excess of WHO limits for drinking water, thus indicating potential toxicity of the samples. Cr, Cd, Sb and Cu were two to eight times high, whilst As and Hg were comparable in powdered tobacco and tobacco leaves. The aim of the study was to determine the pattern of elemental concentrations and the toxicological strengths in both tobacco leaves and tobacco powder. The results indicated that the toxicity of the snuff was higher than the tobacco. This indicated strongly that from the medical point of view, the level of toxic accumulation in users might be potentially high in the tobacco powder compared to the leaves. Thus, education of the Ghanaian public on the threshold value of toxic elements contained in both set of samples was suggested to safeguard users against these addictives.     

Pure graphite as a reference material for the determination of trace elements — an interlaboratory collaborative study

Seven synthetic graphite powders of different grade of purity were analyzed by means of INAA, WDXRF, EDXRF, DC-OES directly and using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ETAAS and FAAS in combination with various sample preparation techniques. On the basis of a statistical evaluation of the results obtained, for the trace elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, reference values were established and, for the elements As, Co, Mg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr, informative values are given. The analyzed reference materials are commercially available.     

Application of INAA and XRFA in a comparative environmental study

Environmental monitoring requires reliable and effective analytical techniques for widely different concentration ranges. Two such methods (INAA and XRFA) were applied in a comparative environmental study on air dust filters and grass. The samples were collected during one year at two locations (near Bucharest/Romania and near Stuttgart/Germany) with different levels of air pollution. Seventeen environmentally relevant elements (As, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Se, V, Zn) were determined. The aim was to test the suitability of INAA and XRFA methods for different elements in these kinds of samplesaat realistical pollution levels. The results were statistically compared for 13 elements, which were determined by both analytical techniques. They were also used to characterize the air pollution level and its variation at the two locations, and to compare them. Generally, concentrations in air of the elements studied are higher in Bucharest than in Stuttgart.     

Determination of trace elements in automotive fuels by filter furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The determination of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni was performed in gasoline and diesel fuel samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using the Transverse Heated Filter Atomizer (THFA). Thermal conditions were experimentally defined for the investigated elements. The elements were analyzed without addition of chemical modifiers, using organometallic standards for the calibration. Forty-microliter samples were injected into the THFA. Gasoline samples were analyzed directly, while diesel fuel samples were diluted 1:4 with n-heptane. The following characteristic masses were obtained: 0.8 pg Cd, 6.4 pg Cr, 12 pg Cu, 17 pg Pb and 27 pg Ni. The limits of determination for gasoline samples were 0.13 μg/kg Cd, 0.4 μg/kg Cr, 0.9 μg/kg Cu, 1.5 μg/kg Pb and 2.5 μg/kg Ni. The corresponding limit of determination for diesel fuel samples was approximately four times higher for all elements. The element recovery was performed using the addition of organometallic compounds to gasoline and diesel fuel samples and was between 85 and 105% for all elements investigated.     

Characterisation of biological RMs for potential use in human brain analysis

Summary In order to investigate the precision and accuracy obtainable with instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), five different biological reference materials were analyzed. Four of them originated from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Bovine Liver (SRM 1577; 1577/a; 185/A), Orchard Leaves (SRM 1571)) and one of them came from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Animal muscle (H-4)). The decomposition efficiency of microwave acid digestion was examined in comparison to digestions carried out in a Parrbomb. Five to ten subsamples of each material were subjected to the two digestion procedures and the solutions were analyzed by ICP-AES. The dried samples were analyzed by INAA. Up to 16 elements (Al, B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Zn) were determined in various materials.     

Development of a simple and fast ultrasound-assisted extraction method for trace element determination in tobacco samples using ICP-MS

The current study describes a simple and fast method for the determination of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb in tobacco samples. Commercial cigarettes obtained from local market stores were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after ultrasound-assisted extraction in acidic medium, and the results were compared to those obtained following microwave-assisted digestion of the samples. The sonication time was evaluated from 0 to 60 min, and a 30 min extraction time was selected. The concentration of HNO₃ was also optimised at 0.7 mol L^?1. In order to verify the accuracy of the proposed method, a certified reference material was submitted to the same extraction protocol adopted for the samples, and good agreement with the certified values was obtained at a 95% confidence level, except for Co. The extraction of Pb was also semi-quantitative. A total of four tobacco samples were analysed, with concentrations ranging from 0.4 for Cr to 214.6 µg g^?1 for Mn. The proposed method was demonstrated to be fast, sensitive, precise and accurate for the determination of Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn an Ni and for the semi-quantitative analysis of Co and Pb in tobacco samples.     

Distribution of some major and trace elements in Danube Delta lacustrine sediments and soil

Sediment cores collected from lakes Mesteru and Furtuna (eastern part), Sontea channel and soil samples collected from Caraorman bar, all located in the Danube Delta, were analyzed for 42 elements (Ag, Al, As, Be, Na, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ce, Hf, Hg, Tl. Pb, Bi, Th. U) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), thick target proton induced X-ray emission (TT-PIXE) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The INAA and TTPIXE yielded total concentrations whereas the ICP-MS data reflected the fractions soluble in 14M HNO₃. The ICP-MS data exhibited surface enrichment relative to the lower part of the sediment core of Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi, most prominently by Cd and Hg. Their vertical distribution in the investigated cores generally reflected the pollution history of recent sediments in Danube delta, showing a steady increase until the end of the 1980s followed by a slow decrease after 1990. The vertical profiles of most remaining elements were characterized by a relatively uniform distribution along the cores. In some cases, the concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb exceeded minimum thresholds of safety, as defined by the Romanian regulations. The elemental composition of the sediment below 20 cm depth (total concentrations) was similar to that of the upper continental crust (UCC) for most elements. Values distinctly higher than UCC were observed for As, Sb (factor ~5) and Cr, Ni, Cu (factor 2 to 3). The nitric acid soluble element concentrations in the soil samples in some cases showed increased values at the surface as compared to 30 cm depth, either due to air pollution or to the action of plants. In no case a large contribution to the topsoil from atmospheric deposition was evident, indicating that the surface contamination of the sediments was mainly by riverine transport. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pure graphite as a reference material for the determination of trace elements — an interlaboratory collaborative study

 Seven synthetic graphite powders of different grade of purity were analyzed by means of INAA, WDXRF, EDXRF, DC-OES directly and using ICP-MS, ICP-OES, ETAAS and FAAS in combination with various sample preparation techniques. On the basis of a statistical evaluation of the results obtained, for the trace elements Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni, reference values were established and, for the elements As, Co, Mg, Mo, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr, informative values are given. The analyzed reference materials are commercially available. Received: 12 February 1996/Revised:27 March 1996/Accepted:2 April 1996     

Analysis of aerosols at the bosporus bridge of Istanbul

Air samples collected at the second Bosporus bridge of Istanbul which carries a heavy traffic load between Asia and Europe, were analyzed for 22 elements by the INAA method. Pb, Cd and Fe concentrations in the samples were determined by AAS. Iron concentrations were used as a cross check between the two methods. In order to define the enrichment factors for the elements in the bridge area, a sample collected from our university campus which can be considered as a rural site, was also analyzed. Differences were observed especially for Br, Al, Mg, Ti, Cu and Na between the two sites. Based on the results of the samples from the bridge, we got a value of 0.58(16) for the Br/Pb-ratio.     

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Trace Element Biomonitoring using Mosses

Two analytical methods - instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) - were used for the trace element analysis of naturally growing mosses for a heavy metal biomonitoring survey. The techniques were applied to reference mosses to evaluate the feasibility, analytical variability, detection limits and accuracy. These parameters were evaluated using 563 mosses sampled in the 1996 French survey. All the elements of interest in the European program "Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in Europe - estimation based on moss analysis" (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Ni, V, Zn) were able to be determined by ICP-MS. INAA appeared suitable for the determination of As, Cr, Fe, Hg, V and Zn. The Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations determined by ICP-MS were preferred to the INAA results, because of increased feasibility or accuracy. The results provided by both methods on the French mosses were statistically compared for 14 elements. Significant linear correlation appeared for: Ba, Ce, Cs, La, Rb, Sm, Th and V. Among these eight elements, Ba, Cs, La and Sm concentrations determined by both methods exhibited a strong statistical similarity. The correlations obtained for As, Eu, Fe and Sb were not as strong and no correlation at all was observed for Co and Cr. These differences were attributed to instrumental factors (e.g. spectral interference occurred for both methods) or due to the sample preparation prior to ICP-MS. The consequences of such results on the regional trend evaluation of atmospheric heavy metal deposition were discussed.     

The use of neutron activation analysis for particle size fractionation and chemical characterization of trace elements in urban air particulate matter

The concentration of more than 25 trace elements have been determined in total air particulate matter and in the size segregated fractions from the urban area of Pavia (North Italy). The PM10 fraction was also collected and analyzed. A study of the solubility in water and in physiological solution of the trace elements contained in the PM10 was also carried out. The resulting solutions were further submitted to column chromatography using Chelex 100 to perform a preliminary chemical characterization. INAA was used as the main analytical technique. ET-AAS was used for all Pb and Cd measurements and, in some cases, for the analysis of V, Mn, Cu and Ni.     

Multi-element determination in earthworms with instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A comparison

Earthworms were collected from agricultural fields in Admont, Graz, Piber and Gumpenstein, Austria. Six earthworm samples were investigated with INAA and with ICP-MS in parallel for the element concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn. With both techniques 14 elements were analysed in a wide concentration range (ng/g to mg/g) GF-AAS and HG-AAS were used for verification of some element concentrations. A comparison of analytical results between INAA and ICP-MS was discussed. In general, good agreement between ICP-MS and INAA was obtained, the relative difference values of most of the elements are within ±20% range, however, a methodical error for the determination of Hg by ICP-MS was found.     

Accelerated denitration by formic acid accompanied with residual acid-electrolytic trimming

The fruit bodies of wild-growing higher fungi (macromycetes), commonly called mushrooms, of various genera and species collected in localities with different geochemical features and man-made burden in the Czech Republic were analyzed by different modes of activation analysis. The elements Na, Mg, Al, S, Cl, K, Ti, V, Mn, Cu, Br, Ba and Dy were determined by short-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Short-term epithermal INAA (ENAA) was used for determination of I and other elements, such as Rb, Ag, and U. The elements Na, K, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Hf, Au, Hg and Th were determined by long-term INAA, whereas long-term ENAA enabled determination of several other elements, such as Ni, Ta, W and U. The analytical possibilities of instrumental photon activation analysis (IPAA) using a microtron were also explored and found useful for determination of several additional elements, namely Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Pb. High concentrations of several essential and toxic trace elements found (up to hundreds of mg^.g^-1, dry mass) should be of concern in nutritional studies, because mushrooms form non-negligible part of diet in many countries, especially in Middle and East Europe.     

微波消解-ICP/MS测定烤烟中微量元素含量

以3 mL HNO3和2 mL H2O2的混合消解液对烟草样品进行微波消解,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱测定了烤烟中的Mn、Zn、Cu、Se、N i、Co、Cr、As、Cd、Pb 10种微量元素的含量.结果表明：方法的检出限均低于0.02μg/g,各元素测定的RSD（n=5）均小于3%,样品加标回收率为97.35%-101.30%.方法消耗试剂少,快速准确,适合烟草中多种微量元素的同时测定.