Studies on the incorporation of Se and Te in the presence of glutathione and cysteine and the distribution of Hg,Zn, Fe,Co and Rb in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The incorporation of Se or Te into some mice organs after injections with selenodiglutathione [(GS)₂ Se], seleno-cystine [(CySe)₂] or Na₂TeO₃ in the presence of glutathione (GSH) or cysteine (CySH) has been studied. Variations in the Hg, Zn, Fe, Co, and Rb contents were determined in all the investigated organs after intraperitoneal injections with the above compounds. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied as the analytical method. It was found that GSH and CySH increased the Se-content in the organs after the injection with (CySe)₂, whereas GSH decreased after (GS)₂ Se supply. GSH and CySH changed also the Te distribution. Injections with the above compounds affect the Hg, Zn, Fe, Co and Rb concentrations and these variations depend upon the injected compounds.     

Studies on the incorporation of Se in the presence of glutathione and the distribution of Zn,Co, Fe,Rb and Cs in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The contents of Se, Fe, Co, Zn and Rb in several organs of Swiss mice were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) after injections with seleno-methionine (Se-Met) and glutathione (GSH). Se was accumulated in all examined organs and significant effects of the treatment with GSH on the distribution of Se were observed. An increase of Zn (or Se) content in blood after injection with Se-Met (or Zn²⁺ ions) was observed.     

Studies on the differences in the effects of SeO2 and organic Se-compounds on the distribution of Hg,Co, Fe,Zn and Rb in mice by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The interaction of inorganic mercury (as HgCl₂) with SeO₂ and organic Se-compounds is compared. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. Organ concentrations of Hg and Se were always significantly higher after simultaneous i. p. injections with HgCl₂ and Se-compounds. Especially high abundances of Se and Hg in mice organs were found after simultaneous injection with Se-methionine and HgCl₂. We suggest that Hg²⁺ ions are bonded by selenohydryl groups of the metabolites of injected Se-compounds. Binding yield of Hg²⁺ ions with metabolites of Se-compounds depends upon the chemical form of injected Se-compounds. Variations in the content of Zn, Co, Fe and Rb were observed in all the investigated organs after a single injection with HgCl₂ or Se-compounds. Simultaneous injection with HgCl₂ and Se-compounds affects the contents of these elements in comparison with single injections.     

The simultaneous determination of As,Cd, Co,Hg, Mo,and Zn in fresh water by neutron activation analysis

A radiochemical neutron activation method for the simultaneous determination of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, mercury, molybdenum, and zinc in fresh water is described. The method is based on anion-exchange separation in hydrochloric acid media followed by simple precipitations. The determination limits, based on analysis of a 5-ml sample without preconcentration, and with a well-type NaI(Tl) detector, are as follows: As, 10^-3 μg l^-1 ; Cd, 6 × 10^-2 μg l^-1 ; Co, 4 × 10^-3 μg l^-1 ; Hg, 7 × 10^-3 μg l^-1 ; Mo, 10^-1 μg l^-1 ; Zn, 2 × 10^-1 μg l^-1. The method is adequate for the analysis of natural fresh waters.     

Use of INAA to study the interaction between Ag and Se,Zn, Rb,Fe or Co in mice

The interaction of inorganic silver (as AgNO₃) with SeO₂ and Se-compounds was studied. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied as the analytical method. Organ concentrations of Ag were always significantly higher 72 hours after simultaneous intraperitoneal injections with AgNO₃ and Se-compounds. Moreover, simultaneous injections elevated the Se-content in organs examined. We suggest that Se-compounds protect against liver lesions by markedly decreasing the concentration of Ag in this organ 2 hours after simultaneous injections. It was also found that Ag supply affects the contents of Zn, Rb, Fe and Co.     

Determination of As,Cd, Hg,Cu and Zn in biological samples by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

In this work, a simple group separation scheme based on extraction for NAA determination of trace of As, Cd, Hg, Cu and Zn in biological materials is described. For this purpose, zinc-diethyldithiocarbamate, Zn(DDC)₂, and methyl isobutyl ketone-iodide have been chosen as reagents. The elements can be extracted successively and quantitatively from strong mineral acids without adjusting pH of the solution, and separated into two groups suitable for gamma-ray spectrometry. Samples of 100–200 mg dry weight were double-sealed into polyethylene bags and irradiated in a swimming pool reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 10¹³n·cm^–2·s^–1 for 44 hours. After a cooling period of 1–3 days, the samples were digested with microgram quantities of carrier in concentrated nitric acid and sulfuric acid at 150°C for 3.5 hours in a teflon bomb, then extracted as described above. The reliability of the analytical method was checked using reference materials Horse Kidney IAEA H-8, Human Hair NIES-5 and Tomato Leaves NBS-1573. Most of the results obtained for reference materials agreed with the certified values¹². Chinese autopsy samples of hair and liver were presented.     

Determination of Mn,Co, Cu,Zn, Ag,Bi, Cd,Se, Cr and Te in anatolian iron artifacts by instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Two methods of concentration of Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, In, Mo, Mn, Sb, Sc, Se, W and Zn from water have been elaborated. The trace elements are preconcentrated by coprecipitation with thionalide at pH 9, 1 and 0 or by sorption on ion exchange resin Dowex 1×2 loaded with 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid at pH 7.     

Interaction between Se and Cr and distribution of Zn,Rb, Co,and Fe in mice given chromate ions and selenium compounds

Male SAS/4 mice injected intraperitoneally with chromate ions and Se-compounds (i.e. selenodiglutathione, selenocystine, selenomethionine and SeO₂). The distribution of Se, Cr, Zn, Rb, Co and Fe in liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, lungs, blood, small intestine and eyes has been studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Cr was incorporated in all investigated organs and the efficiency of the Cr-accumulation was affected upon the Se-injection. It was found that the mutual and indirect interaction occurs between injected Se-compounds and chromate ions. On the other hand, the interaction of Cr with Zn has been competitive. Injection with chromate ions affects the contents of Rb, Co and Fe in mice organs.     

Effect of sulfur compounds and uranium on the distribution of Se in mice studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The incorporation of Se into some mice organs after injections of seleno-cystamine [(Se-Cta)₂] in the presence of glutathione, cysteine, methionine, cysteamine, 6-mercaptopurine, 2-mercaptopurine and UO ₂ ²⁺ has been studied. Variations in the Zn, Rb, Co, Fe and Hg contents were determined in all examined organs after intraperitoneal injections with the above compounds. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied as the analytical method. It was found that injected compounds affect the Se-distribution in the organs examined. Single applied intraperitoneal injection of (Se-Cta)₂ or UO ₂ ²⁺ lead to variations in the Zn, Rb, Co, Fe and Hg contents in mice organs.     

Determination of As,Cd, Cu,Hg, Mo,Sb, and Se in biological reference materials by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

The elements As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mo, Sb, and Se were determined in the biological reference materials (RMs) Bowen's Kale, NIST SRM-1577 Bovine Liver, NIST SRM-1549 Milk Powder, and Versieck's 2nd Generation Biological RM Human Serum using two newly developed radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) procedures. The first is based on sample decomposition in a mixutre of H₂SO₄+HNO₃+H₂O₂ and simultaneous extraction of the elements As, Cd–In, Cu, Mo, and Sb by 0.025M Zn(DDC)₂ in chloroform from 2–4M H₂SO₄ in the presence of 0.01M KI. The second consists of sample decomposition in HNO₃ in teflon bombs heated at 150°C, Hg extraction by 0.01M Ni(DDC)₂ in chloroform from about 1M HNO₃, and Se precipitation by ascorbic acid from about 1M HClO₄. The RNAA procedures were also used for intercomparison analyses of A and P NIST Leaf Materials (NIST candidate SRM-1515 Apple Leaves and NIST SRM-1547 Peach Leaves, respectively), and CZIM Bovine Liver 12-02-01 RM. Very good agreement of results with certified and/or literature values proved the high accuracy of these determinations by the proposed RNAA procedures, even at the sub-ng/g levels.     

Size-spectra and growth of particles bearing As,Se, Sb,and Zn in Washington,DC, area aerosol by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Aerosol particles smaller than 1.8 m were size-fractionated with micro-orifice impactors at two urban sites near Washington, DC, and analyzed for 44 elements including, As, Se, Sb, and Zn, i.e., elements strongly associated with coal combustion, incineration, and regionally transported secondary aerosol, by Instrumental Neutron Activation. Size distribution parameters were determined nonparametrically and with a least-squares peak-fitting method using impactor calibration data. Geometric and fitted mass mean aerodynamic diameters typically differed by <10% and increased continuously with increasing relative humidity (RH) in the range 56 to 79%, but along different curves for samples influenced by local and distant sources. The geometric mass mean diameters for samples influenced by winds from the direction of local sources were uniformly smaller than those influenced by westerly winds bearing aerosol from distant, regional, sources. At 60% RH, gmmads were As, 0.30±0.03 and 0.46±0.04; Se, 0.33±0.06 and 0.54±0.04; Sb, 0.39±0.03 and 0.53±0.04; and Zn, 0.39±0.06 and 0.53±0.08; respectively.     

Determination of Se,Cd, and Hg in an aquatic environment of Bombay by substoichiometric neutron activation analysis

The toxicity of Se, Cd, and Hg as environmental pollutants and the impact of these elements on the aquatic ecosystem is undisputed. The present paper reports an investigation of the concentration of Cd, Se, and Hg in an aquatic environment of a large metropolitan city like Bombay. As the toxicity of these elements manifests itself at micro and submicro levels, the very sensitive technique of neutron activation analysis was employed. A sequential substoichiometric extraction technique for the separation of radiochemically pure²⁰³Hg,⁷⁵Se, and^115–115mCd from the neutron irradiated target has also been employed.     

Determination of As,Cd, Cr,Cu, Hg,Sb and Se concentrations by radiochemical neutron activation analysis in different Brazilian regional diets

The present paper describes radiochemical separation procedures developed for the determination of seven elements: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Sb and Se in different Brazilian regional diets. In the case of the elements As, Hg, Sb and Se, the procedure was based on retention in inorganic exchanger TDO (tin dioxide) and determination of Hg by extraction with Ni(DDC)₂. For determination of Cd, Cr, Cu and Se the procedure chosen was based on retention in inorganic exchanger HMD (hydrated managese dioxide) and extraction of Cu and Cd as diethyldithiocarbamate compounds. The accuracy and precision of the methods studied were tested by means of analyses of different reference materials. Due to the lack of data on trace element levels in Brazilian foodstuffs and diets, these methods were applied to determination of these elements in different Brazilian regional diets. These diets were supplied by the Food and Experimental Nutrition Department of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, University of São Paulo. The daily dietary intake values for these diets are presented for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Sb and Se.     

Determination of trace elements Cd,Co, Mo,Se, Ti and V in natural waters by neutron activation analysis

The concentration of cadmium, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium, titanium and vanadium in natural water was determined by neutron activation analysis, using a prior preconcentration by a coprecipitation. The preconcentration of these trace elements was accomplished by converting the dissolved trace ions into the pyrrolidine dithiocarbonate (PDC) chelates, followed by coprecipitation on Bi as well as Pb-PDC chelates. This technique has been applied to the elements in natural waters: fresh water and sea waters (Mediterranian and Dead Sea).     

Determination of Cr,Mn, Fe,Cu, Zn,As, Se,Cd, Hg and Pb in Ginseng by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) has become an established technique of multi-element trace analysis, and it has been used for the analysis for the variety of samples,especially the samples of traditional Chinese medicine.     

Determination of Fe and Zn in biological samples by radiochemical neutron activation analysis

Radiochemical NAA methods have been developed for the simultaneous determination of Fe and Zn in biological samples. The method involves reactor irradiation, dissolution in 3M HCl and solvent extraction followed by counting on a scintillation gamma-ray spectrometer. Iron was separated with aqueous cupferron and extracted into chloroform while Zn was extracted with 2-thenoyl trifluoroacetone (TTA) into methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). Reaction conditions such as pH and the effect of solvents and various ions were studied using tracer activities. The methods have been employed for trace level determination of Fe and Zn in NBS, SRMs, Bowen's Kale, IAEA CRMs and other plant leaves.     

Rare-earth elements abundance and distribution in pelagic sediments by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The geochemical behavior of REE has been tested in the Umbro-Marchean (Italy) pelagic sequences of Cretaceous-Paleocene age. REE were determined by INAA in a number of limestone, marl and clay samples. Both chondrite and shale normalized patterns are discussed: the observed REE amounts and distributions are mainly attributed to highly complex diagenetic processes.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis,a technique for measurement of Se,Hg, Fe,Zn, K,Mn, Br,and the Hg:Se ratio in brain tissue samples with results from the Memory and Aging Project (MAP)

An INAA method for measurement of Se, Hg, Fe, Cr, Zn, Mn, K, and Br in autopsy cerebellum, anterior putamen, white matter, mid-frontal cortex, and inferior temporal lobe. Se, Hg, Fe, Cr, and Zn were measured autopsy samples collected from participants of the Memory and Aging Project. The first study examined the association between seafood consumption, brain Hg and Se, Apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) status, and brain neuropathology. Following the initial study, the samples were archived. A subsequent method was developed to measure Mn, K, and Br in the archived brain tissue samples.     

Determination of the elemental distribution in cigarette components and smoke by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Cigarette smoking is a major source of particles released in indoor environments. A comprehensive study of the elemental distribution in cigarettes and cigarette smoke has been completed. Specifically, concentrations of thirty elements have been determined for the components of 15 types of cigarettes. Components include tobacco, ash, butts, filters, and cigarette paper. In addition, particulate matter from mainstream smoke (MS) and sidestream smoke (SS) were analyzed. The technique of elemental determination used in the study is instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results show that certain heavy metals, such as As, Cd, K, Sb and Zn, are released into the MS and SS. These metals may then be part of the health risk of exposure to smoke. Other elements are retained, for the most part, in cigarette ash and butts. The elemental distribution among the cigarette components and smoke changes for different smoking conditions.