Determination of elements in different parts of goat brain using k 0 instrumental neutron activation analysis

Researcher’s interest is increasing worldwide to study the role of trace elements in brain tissues. This paper discusses the application of k ₀-instrumental neutron activation analysis to study the distribution of trace elements in seven different anatomical regions of goat brain. These regions include cerebellum, cerebrum, medulla oblongata, meninges, midbrain, pons and thalamus. The analysis protocol followed 1 h irradiation at 10 MW material testing type nuclear research reactor with nominal thermal neutron flux of 2 × 10¹³ cm^?2 s^?1. A total of 14 elements, namely Br, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, Hg, K, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Tb and Zn were determined in all parts. Reliability of the method was assessed by analyzing biological reference material IAEA-336 (lichen). On comparing the analytical results with the healthy human brain data, it showed that eight elements (Eu, K, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Tb) were found with relatively higher elemental concentrations in human brain. Principal component analysis revealed distribution of seven parts in different three groups having similar elemental concentrations of elements.     

Trace element analysis of turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) feathers

Ten feather samples, including primary and secondary flight and tail feathers, were analysed for the trace element composition of vane and rachis structures using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS). Five environmentally significant elements, Cr, As, Se, Sb and Hg, were analysed by INAA and ICP-MS/CVAAS. A further seventeen elements were analysed by ICP-MS. The majority data obtained by INAA and ICP-MS/CVAAS were not statistically significantly different (p = 0.05), although the removal of isobaric interferences using dynamic reaction cell technology was essential to produce ICP-MS data that were consistent with INAA for Cr, As and Se. Significantly higher trace element concentrations were observed for vane relative to rachis for all elements, except Cu and Hg. These elements displayed vane/rachis ratios of 0.7 ± 0.2 and 1.0 ± 0.2, respectively. In general, vane and rachis subgroups afforded data that were consistent with a normal distribution, with RSDs in the range (12–83) % for INAA analyses. A total of 18 outliers were noted amongst the various feather, structure, element combinations, with 14 outliers being observed in the vane and/or rachis structures of the same tail feather. Given the significant differences in vane and rachis concentrations observed for many elements, the large RSDs reported for elements and the potential for outliers, the determination of environmental trace element burden using feathers is significantly enhanced by the analysis of multiple feathers using INAA.     

Hierarchical clustering of Alzheimer and “normal” brains using elemental concentrations and glucose metabolism determined by PIXE, INAA and PET

Brain tissue samples, obtained from the Alzheimer Disease Brain Bank,Institute of Psychiatry, London, were taken from both left and right hemispheresof three regions of the cerebrum, namely the frontal, parietal and occipitallobes for both Alzheimer and 'normal' subjects. Trace elementconcentrations in the frontal lobe were determined for twenty six Alzheimer(15 male, 11 female) and twenty six 'normal' (8 male, 18 female)brain tissue samples. In the parietal lobe ten Alzheimer (2 male, 8 female)and ten 'normal' (8 male, 2 female) samples were taken along withten Alzheimer (4 male, 6 female) and ten 'normal' (6 male, 4 female)from the occipital lobe. For the frontal lobe trace element concentrationswere determined using proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis whilein parietal and occipital regions instrumental neutron activation analysis(INAA) was used. Additionally eighteen Alzheimer (9 male, 9 female) and eighteenage matched 'normal' (8 male, 10 female) living subjects wereexamined using positron emission tomography (PET) in order to determine regionalcerebral metabolic rates of glucose (rCMRGlu). The rCMRGlu of 36 regions ofthe brain was investigated including frontal, occipital and parietal lobesas in the trace element study. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied tothe trace element and glucose metabolism data to discover which variablesin the resulting dendrograms displayed the most significant separation betweenAlzheimer and 'normal' subjects.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis for assessing homogeneity of a whole rice candidate reference material

A whole rice reference material was prepared for use in quality control of trace elements in rice and in similar matrices. This study aimed at evaluating the homogeneity of the material. As, Br, Co, Cs, Fe, K, Na, Rb and Zn were determined in the samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The material is homogeneous for the elements determined (p < 0.05), except for Co and Fe, which presented dispersion of results much higher than the predicted degree of repeatability.     

A study of trace element concentrations in human hair of some local population in Malaysia

The content of the trace elements As, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Sb and Zn has been evaluated in hair samples from selected population groups within Malaysia. Each population group was formed of individuals selected to be representative of the adult population living in a well-defined community. The groups were chosen from distinct regions with different socio-economical living habits in order to detect variability of the trace element burden among Malaysian. All the measurements were performed by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis after the hair samples were carefully washed according to standard procedures. The results for all elements investigated do not differ significantly from reported values for other regions of the world. The levels of As, Hg, and Sb are significantly different for the various groups and is strongly linked to local environmental factors.     

Use of INAA and ICP-MS for the assessment of trace element mass fractions in adult and geriatric prostate

The variation with age of the mass fraction of 54 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Be, Bi, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Hf, Hg, Ho, Ir, La, Li, Lu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Re, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, Y, Yb, Zn, and Zr) in intact nonhyperplastic prostate of 65 healthy 21–87 year old males was investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis with high resolution spectrometry of long-lived radionuclides and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This work revealed that there is a significant tendency for an increase in Bi, Cd, Co, Fe, Hg, Sc, Sn, Th, U, and Zn (p < 0.0014) mass fraction in normal prostate from age 21 years to the sixth decade. In the sixth to ninth decades the mass fractions of almost all chemical elements investigated in nonhyperplastic prostates were maintained at approximately stable levels. Our finding of correlation between pairs of prostatic chemical element mass fractions indicates that there is a great disturbance of prostatic chemical element relationships with increasing age.     

Determination of trace elements in human brain tissues using neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis was applied to assess trace element concentrations in brain tissues from normal (n = 21) and demented individuals (n = 21) of both genders aged more than 50 years. Concentrations of the elements Br, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Se and Zn were determined. Comparisons were made between the results obtained for the hippocampus and frontal cortex tissues, as well as, those obtained in brains of normal and demented individuals. Certified reference materials, NIST 1566b Oyster Tissue and NIST 1577b Bovine Liver were analyzed for quality of the analytical results.     

Macro,minor and trace elements in bovine milk from two Brazilian dairy regions

Brazil started to export dairy products in the early 2000s and since then has slowly consolidated its position in the world dairy market. To ensure the position in the international market by improving the quality of milk produced in the country, the government created a national program and a network of laboratories for milk quality. The Normative Instruction 51 (Instrução Normativa 51—IN51) was introduced within the national program establishing parameters for milk quality and safety. In spite of not being included in the IN51, chemical elements are under thorough discussion as quality parameters for their nutritional and toxicological relevance. This work aimed at evaluating the quality of milk from one of the major dairy regions in Brazil, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, by the determination of chemical elements, comparing the results with those previously obtained for milk samples from the main dairy region of the country, in the state of Minas Gerais. Samples were collected from cooling tanks in nineteen dairy farms. After freeze drying, chemical elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). For ten out of sixteen chemical elements determined, there were significant differences between samples from both producing regions (p < 0.01).     

Several methods to determine heavy metals in the human brain

The determination of naturally occurring heavy metals in various parts of the human brain is discussed. The patients had no diseases in their central nervous systems (five individuals, mean age 70 years). Twenty brain parts were selected from both hemispheres. The analysis was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis methods. Accuracy and precision of the applied techniques were tested by using standard reference materials. Two digestion methods were used to dissolve the brain samples for ICP-AES and GF-AAS. One was performed in a Parr-bomb and the second in a microwave oven. The present results show a non-homogeneous distribution of the essential elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in normal human brain. Corresponding regions in both hemispheres showed an almost identical concentration of these elements. In the case of toxic elements (Pb, Cd) an average value in different brain regions can not be established because of the high variability of individual data. This study indicates that beside differences in Pb and Cd intake with foods or cigarette smoke inhalation, the main factors of the high inter-individual variability of these element concentrations in human brain parts may be a marked difference in individual elimination or accumulation capabilities.     

Vanadium biomonitoring by using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perna perna</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758) mussels transplanted in the coast of the State of São Paulo,Brazil

The increased pollution in the aquatic ecosystem has led to the investigation of toxic elements in sea water by using marine organisms to assess marine pollution from human activities. Among these organisms, the mollusks bivalves have been used as biomonitors since they can accumulate trace elements and other substances, without the occurrence of their death. In this study, Perna perna mussels were transplanted from a mussel farm (reference region) to four sites located in coastal regions of São Paulo State, Brazil, close to anthropic discharge areas. Vanadium was determined in mussel tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Quality control of V analysis was checked by analyzing biological reference materials and the results obtained were precise and in good agreement with the certified values. Comparisons between the V concentrations obtained in transplanted mussels indicated that those from São Sebastião region, close to an oil terminal presented the highest concentration of this element, during spring.     

Elemental characterization of some Nigerian gemstones: tourmaline, fluorite and topaz by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was employed in the determination of the major and trace element constituents in tourmaline, fluorite and topaz collected from the gemstone mineralization within a SW–NE trending pegmatite zone, central Nigeria. Cost, turnaround time, high sensitivity for certain elements, the non-destructive nature of analysis and its precision and accuracy have combined to make INAA an indispensable method for multi-element determination in virtually all geological matrices. The major element constituents in tourmaline were Al (119,800 ppm), Mn (4,348 ppm), Na (15,540 ppm) and Fe (34,290 ppm). For fluorite, Ca was the major element with a concentration of 552,000 ppm. In topaz, Al was the major constituent with a concentration of 322,800 ppm. The data suites reveal the presence of As, Br, La, Sc, Co, Hf, Ta and Sb in tourmaline, Na, As, Br, La, Yb, Co, Zn, Eu, Hf, Th in fluorite and Mg, Mn, Na, Br, La, Sc, Co and Ta as trace contaminants. No attempt was made to identify the molecular structure of the gemstones as oxygen, fluorine and silicon contents in any of them were not determined.     

Elemental analysis of the frontal lobe of “normal” brain tissue and that affected by Alzheimer's disease

Normal brain tissue and brain tissue affected by Alzheimer's disease has been taken from the frontal lobe of both hemispheres and their elemental compositions in terms of major, minor and trace elements compared. Brain samples were obtained from the MRC Alzheimer's Disease Brain Bank, London. 25 samples were taken from 18 individuals (5 males and 13 females) of mean age 79.9±7.3 years with pathologically confirmed Alzheimer'sdisease and 26 samples from 15 individuals (8 males and 7 females) of mean age 71.8±13.0 years with no pathological signs of Alzheimer's disease (normals). The elemental concentration of the samples were determined by the techniques of Rutherford backscattering (RBS) analysis, particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Sc, Fe, Zn, Se, Br, Rb and Cs were detected by INAA and significant differences in concentrations were found between concentrations in normal and Alzheimer tissue for the elements. Na, Cl, K, Se, Br and Rb, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cd were detected by PIXE analysis and significant differences found for the elements P, S, Cl, K and Ca.     

INAA application in the assessment of Ag, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, and Zn mass fraction in pediatric and young adult prostate glands

The effect of age on trace element contents in intact prostate of 50 apparently healthy 0–30 year old males was investigated by neutron activation analysis with high resolution spectrometry of long-lived radionuclides. Mean values (M ± SΕΜ) for mass fraction (milligram per kilogram, on dry-weight basis) of trace elements were: Ag 0.0708 ± 0.0096, Co 0.0348 ± 0.0040, Cr 0.466 ± 0.069, Fe 100 ± 10, Hg 0.0258 ± 0.0025, Rb 12.6 ± 0.8, Sb 0.0576 ± 0.0066, Sc 0.0125 ± 0.0016, Se 0.478 ± 0.031, and Zn 273 ± 31, respectively. A strongly pronounced tendency of age-related increase in Se and Zn mass fraction and of age-related decrease in Co, Cr, Fe, and Sc mass fraction was observed in period of life from 0 to 30 years.     

Differences in Trace Element Concentrations between the Right and Left Hemispheres of Human Brain Using INAA

Very few publications have quoted differences between the same regions in both the right and left hemispheres of the human brain. It may be possible that that the two hemispheres have different trace elemental concentrations, since it is known that they both have different functions. In this study, three brain regions from both the right and left hemispheres of the cortex have been sampled from five elderly individuals (three 'normal' and two Alzheimer's disease) and their elemental concentrations have been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA).     

Calcium supplements as additional source of trace elements in health and disease Part 1: adequacy and safety of chelated calcium supplements

Eleven chelated calcium supplements intended for human consumption and produced by national and multinational companies have been studied for their mineral contents. Instrumental neutron activation analysis technique was used to quantify 12 elements (As, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Na, Sb, Sn, Sr and Zn) while atomic absorption spectrometry technique quantified Cd, Cu and Ni. Three different irradiation protocols were adopted using a 27 kW tank-in-pool type miniature neutron source reactor. Most of the elements were present as minor or trace constituents except for Na that was quantified as major element in CaS-1 (3.73 %), CaS-2 (1.45 %), CaS-4 (1.56 %), CaS-5 (2.31 %), CaS-6 (1.84 %), CaS-7 (1.22), CaS-8 (1.73), CaS-9 (1.94), CaS-10 (2.07) and CaS-11 (2.48). However supplement CaS-3 with Ca source of calcium acetate contained only 53 μg/g of Na and the highest amount of Fe while As, Br, Cd and Sb were not detected in this sample. Percentage daily intakes with respect to their recommended dietary reference intake s and provisional tolerable daily intakes of essential and toxic elements showed that these elements contribute to a very low percentage of the recommended/tolerable levels for most of the supplements studied. Nevertheless the findings depict that it is very important for pharmaceutical and neutraceutical firms to completely identify these elements in the supplements and include their potency on the labels before being released to the consumers.     

Towards routine NAA of materials rich in heavy elements with iterative gamma-ray attenuation and neutron self-shielding calculations

Solids and powders can be analysed directly and with good accuracy by neutron activation analysis without sample preparation because of the excellent penetrating powers of neutrons and gamma rays. However, if the sample contains high concentrations of gamma-absorbing heavy elements or neutron-absorbing elements, the analysis results must be corrected for neutron self-shielding and gamma-ray attenuation. These effects are coupled and depend on the chemical composition of the sample, which is the final result of the analysis. Thus, the correction calculation must be iterative. In this work we performed the first coupled iterative corrections of the two effects. Six test samples were prepared by mixing powders containing compounds of Cd, a neutron absorber, and the rare-earth elements Ce, Pr and Nd with concentrations as high as 47 %. The samples were irradiated in the SLOWPOKE research reactor and counted with a germanium gamma-ray detector. In the samples with the highest heavy element concentrations, the uncorrected Neutron activation analysis results were in error by as much as 55 %. The results were corrected iteratively using the neutron self-shielding model coupled with the gamma-ray attenuation model, and the final corrected results were accurate to 5 % or better.     

Application of k0-method in instrumental neutron activation analysis to glass matrix: test study for low power research reactor GHARR-1

In this work k₀-INAA (via IAEAk₀-software) has been applied on glass samples to determine major, minor and trace element concentration. As many as 50 elements were detected and quantified with 3–5 mg of 0.1 % AuAl comparator monitor (0.1 % gold–99.9 %Alumimum wire). The average concentration of SiO₂, Na₂O, CaO, Al₂O₃ and MgO ranged between 76–96 %, 11.15–12.66 %, 5.26–10.71 %, 1.13–2.73 % and 3.51–6.23 % respectively. The relative concentrations of impurity elements; Cr, Fe, Mn and Co determined from the glass samples were used to match the physical appearance (color) of the glass based on general knowledge of colored glass production. The analytical procedure was validated using SRM 610 (glass matrix) and SRM GBW07106 (rock matrix) both as control samples which indicated a relative uncertainty of 15 and 6 % respectively for SRM 610 and SRM GBW07106. The relative sensitivity at which some of the elements were detected in major, minor and trace levels have indicated, that the k₀-method in instrumental neutron activation analysis using low power research reactor is a useful technique in glass analysis and could equally be used for forensic and archeological glass characterization.     

Brain regional distribution of the minor and trace elements, Na, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Zn and Se, in mice bred under Zn-deficient, -adequate and -excessive diets

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was to study the regional distributions of the minor (Na, K) and trace (Sc, Cr, Mn, Co, Zn, Se) elements in mice bred under the controlled diets with Zn content from 0.7 to 3520 ppm in small amounts of brain regions (cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, hippocampus, thalamus and hypothalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, pons and medulla, olfactory bulb). The trace elements were distributed heterogeneously among all brain regions and concentrated in corpus striatum and hippocampus. No significant changes were observed in Zn concentration of most brain regions among the mice bred under Zn-deficient ([Zn] = 3.6 ppm), -adequate and -excessive diets. The results indicate that the homeostasis of Zn seems to be maintained and the brain regional concentrations of Zn seem to be generally constant in all brain regions over a wide range of dietary Zn content from a deficient content as few ppm up to apparently excessive content as 3520 ppm. In an extremely severe Zn-deficient diet ([Zn]<0.7 ppm) where mice can hardly survive, the brain regions may have higher Zn concentration.     

Trace elements in several species of crustaceans of Amami Island Group in Japan determined by activation analysis

Concentration levels of trace elements were determined in several speciesof subtropical crustaceans from Amami Islands in Japan in order to evaluatethe levels of specific accumulation of elements among species. Tissue samplesprepared from gill, muscle, hepatopancreas, and testis were irradiated forphoton activation analysis (PAA) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). ByPAA and NAA, eighteen elements could be determined. The levels of Br and Iwere extremely high in gills of spiny lobster and shovel-nosed lobster, respectively.A high concentration of Ag was found in the hepatopancreas of spiny lobsterscollected from the Amami Islands, while this element was not detected in thesame species collected from Toba. The results suggest that the distributionof the trace elements in different tissues and species varies according toboth species and environmental differences. To study the molecular forms ofthe elements in tissue, we separated fractions that contained protein-boundelements from the hepatopancreas of spiny lobsters by ultracentrifugationand gel filtration chromatography. Elution profiles of the chromatographysuggest that Cu, Fe, and Se were bound to proteins, while Ag was not.     

Complexation of Eu3+ with cone conformers of three substituted calix[4]arenes in nitrobenzene saturated with water

From extraction experiments and $ \gamma Accurate knowledge of the trace elemental concentrations in wheat and its products is of great importance from a nutritional point of view. In this study, six wheat samples were prepared from the agriculture research center of Arak named Sardari, Amir, MV-17, Batava, Karaj-2 and Alvand; they were analyzed by neutron activation method (NAA). In this method, Isfahan miniature reactor as a neutron source and relative NAA method has been used as the analysis type. In this design in order to record gamma spectrum the MCA system and high purity germanium detector were used. Finally, the concentration of the trace elements such as Br, K and Na value was determined for the Sardari, Amir, Alvand, MV-17, Batava, Karaj-2 wheat samples. The average concentration of trace elements in all wheat samples in the studied area are 2.41(0.8597?6.1175) mg kg^?1 for Br, 13.42(8.7063?24.696) mg kg^?1 for Na and 463.30(434.22?505.45) mg kg^?1 for K, respectively. These were compared with other reports results. This study has been conducted as the first time for this region.