Instrumental neutron activation analysis of trace element contents in the rib bone of healthy men

The effect of age on trace element contents in rib bone of 24 healthy 16–55-year old men was investigated by INAA. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) for mass fraction of Co, Fe, Rb, Sr, and Zn (mg/kg on dry weight basis) were: 0.0030 ± 0.0005, 150 ± 20, 1.70 ± 0.30, 260 ± 30, and 76 ± 4, respectively. The upper limit of mean contents of Ce, Cs, Eu, Hg, and Se were: ≤0.03, ≤0.01, ≤0.001, ≤0.008, and ≤0.03, respectively. The contents of Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Cd, Cr, Gd, Hf, La, Lu, Nd, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, and Zr were under detection limits. No changes of trace element contents with age were found.