INAA and flame AAS of various vegetable reference materials

Summary INAA and flame AAS have been used for the analysis of a large number of vegetable reference materials. Out of all determined elements (28 by INAA and 11 by AAS) nine are common for both methods (Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn) and for these the possibilities of the two methods have been compared.     

Elemental characterization of TSP and two size fractions of airborne particulate matter from Tehran by INAA and AAS

Airborne particulate matter has been collected by a high volume and a Gent-type stacked filter unit (SFU) low volume sampler during the 2000-2001 period. The high volume sampler used S&S cellulosic and the SFU two Nuclepore polycarbonate filters to collect fine and coarse size fractions. The elemental analysis of the collected TSP, fine and coarse particles has been performed using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Twenty-two trace elements on Nuclepore and twenty-four elements on S&S filters have been measured. The collected data have been compared with the previous data of Tehran air and with other cities in the world. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Homogeneity studies of reference materials by solid sampling – AAS and INAA

The necessity to quantify a natural material's homogeneity with respect to its elemental distribution prior to chemical analysis of a given aliquot is emphasised. The instruments and methods which are currently available are described. Additionally, the calculation of element specific, relative homogeneity factors, H _E and the minimum sample mass, M _5%, to achieve 5% precision on a 95% confidence level is given. Especially, in the production and certification of certified reference materials (CRMs) this characteristic information should be determined in order to provide the user with additional inherent properties of the CRM, to enable more economic use of the expensive material and to evaluate further systematic bias of the applied analytical technique.     

Trace element characterization of medieval and post-medieval glass objects by means of INAA and EPMA

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied to create a database for minor and trace elements in medieval and post-medieval glassware in order to establish a methodology for estimating the origin of the glass objects. First, general characterization of glass types was done on the basis of the results obtained by the use of electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Information received by the use of INAA provided the additional valuable data reflecting to some extent the method of preparation or the differentiation of various sources of certain raw materials. Several glass samples and a set of various reference glass materials were used for our experiments.     

Determination of metals in used lubricating oils by AAS using emulsified samples

An efficient method was developed for the determination of metals in used lubricating oils, by atomic absorption spectrometry. Oil samples were treated with an acid mixture and then emulsified in water (10% w/w) using ethoxy nonylphenol (6% w/w) as surfactant. Emulsion characteristics (oil, surfactant content and acid mixture) were optimized to obtain the best AAS signal. Good agreement was found between calibration curves of aqueous and emulsified standard solutions when a peristaltic pump was used to introduce the solutions into the flame. The emulsion methodology was comparable, within 95% of confidence, to traditional ashing methodologies when a standard reference oil and a used lubricating oil were analyzed. Precision between 0.4 and 5% RSD was obtained when real sample was analyzed using emulsions.     

Air pollution studies in Central Russia (Tula Region) using the moss biomonitoring technique, INAA and AAS

For the first time the moss biomonitoring technique has been applied to air pollution monitoring in Central Russia (Tula region). INAA at the IBR-2 reactor has made it possible to determine the content of 33 elements in mosses collected at 83 sampling site. In addition to NAA, flame AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry) was applied to determine the content of Cd, Cu and Pb. Factor analysis was applied to determine possible sources of trace element deposition in Tula mosses. The geographical distribution of factor scores and some element distribution maps over the investigated territory are presented.     

Multi elemental analysis of indigenous food spices in Southern Ethiopia using INAA technique

The objective of this study is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of essential and trace elements of four indigenous Ethiopian spices and herbs using instrumental neutron activation analysis technique. Results obtained for 16 elements: Major elements; Mg, Cl, and K; Minor elements; Na, Fe, and Mn, Zn, Br. While Al, V, Sm, Sc, La, Ba, Eu, Rb were found in traces. The spices, Affromumom korarima and Lippa Adonesis var. Koseret sebsebe were found to be very good sources of essential trace elements like Fe, Zn and Mn. The highest concentration of Mg was found in Ajowan whereas K and Fe were measured in Coriander seeds. The average daily dietary intake of some essential elements from the use of these spices were found to be below the recommended upper limit by WHO.

     

Trace element characterization by INAA of three sediments to be certified as standard reference materials

Three environmental matrices proposed as Certified Reference Materials, issued by the EU Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme (SMTP) formerly Bureau Communautaire de Reference (BCR) have been characterized for their trace element contents.The materials are: BCR 277 R Estuarine Sediment, BCR 280 R Lake Sediment and BCR 320 R Channel Sediment.Several trace elements, including As, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sc, Th, U and Zn have been determined by our laboratory using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Our contributed values are being considered for the final certification.     

Trace element evaluation of rice and husk by INAA

An instrumental neutron activation analysis technique has been utilized to study the prevailing levels of certain inorganic trace elements in different varieties of rice produced in Pakistan. The data have been compared with those of other countries. The elemental ratios within rice and rice to husk have been computed to evaluate indirectly the impact of soil and environment on the rice crops. The dietary spectum for the inhabitants of Rawalpindi/Islamabad areas has been evaluated by estimating the daily intake and comparing with allowances suggested in the literature.     

Evaluation of plastic packaging materials used in radiation sterilized medical products and food

This paper studied the results of evaluation on resistance to radiation, moisture permeability, bacteria permeability, tensile strength, elongation at break and sealing ability for several plastic films available on the market. The result shows that nylon, sarin, and polyethylene complex films, high and low density polyethylene films are applicable for packing of radiation sterilized products.     

Feasibility of using INAA for biomonitoring of heavy metals and other elements in human ectoderm derivatives

For systematic checking of the feasibility of determining elements by INAA in scalp hair, pubic hair and toenails, three different regimes were employed by varying the activation time and cooling time prior to -ray spectrometric measurements. The combination of these three regimes (activation time 1 min, cooling time 10 min; activation time 5 h, cooling time 5 d; activation time 5 h, cooling time 30 d) made it possible to determine the following 20 elements in most samples: Al, As, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, K, La, Mn, Na, S, Sb, Se, Zn. Further 10 elements (Ba, Cd, Mo, Ni, Rb, Sc, Sm, Th, V, W) were detectable only in some samples, however, with a fairly good precision, so that they could be detected in this way in the case of elevated concentrations exceeding physiological limits.     

Determination of trace and toxic elements in Korean rice CRM by INAA, ICP and AAS

Trace and toxic elements in Certified Reference Material (CRM) made of Korean rice at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science have been analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Data intercomparison from the measurement with those of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and Induced Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICPS) has been studied. The powdered samples were sterilized at 1.5·10⁶ rad in the bottles using a⁶⁰Co source after sieving and spiking to specific elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu and Hg and then the homogeneity of samples was assessed. Rice flour (SRM 1568a) and standard solutions made by the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) were used to construct the calibration curves for the INAA and the chemical methods, respectively. The uncertainties and concentration of constituent elements were determined and the possibility of their use for analytical quality control was considered.     

Simultaneous determination of short-to-medium lived nuclides in Ghanaian food items using INAA and Compton suppression counting

Summary An instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of 19 elements in 10 individual food items from Ghana. The samples were irradiated for 1 minutes in a neutron flux of 2.5.     

Colorimetric microestimation of antioxidants in edible oils and plastic containers

Summary A colorimetric procedure for the microestimation of food-grade antioxidants present in edible oils and plastic containers is reported. The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent is used and quantitatively forms blue complexes with BHA, BHT, PG, and NDGA. (_max=675 nm for BHA and BHT, 700 nm for PG and NDGA). Each antioxidant can be detected down to 0.1 g on a thin-layer plate.

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Zusammenfassung Ein kolorimetrisches Verfahren zur Mikrobestimmung von Antioxydantien in Speiseölen und deren Plastikbehältern wurde beschrieben. Das Reagens nach Folin und Ciocalteu bildet in quantitativer Umsetzung stabile blaue Komplexverbindungen mit Hydroxyanisolbutyläther (I), Hydroxytoluolbutyläther (II), Propylgallat (III) und Nordihydroguaiaretsäure (IV): _max=675 nm für I und II, 700 nm für III und IV. Bis zu 0,1 g von jedem der genannten Antioxydantien ist auf einer Dünnschichtplatte nachweisbar.

     

INAA,AAS, and lead isotope analysis of ancient lead anchors from the Black Sea

Lead stocks of wooden-lead anchors found along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and typologically dated VI c. B.C.-III c. A. D. have been analyzed for chemical composition and lead isotope ratios by INAA, AAS and mass spectrometry. Using multivariate methods for analysis as well as simple bivariate plots the lead for production of the stocks was localized as originating from Laurion, Thassos, Troas, Chalkidike and the Rhodopes. In general, the chemical composition is not recommended to be used for provenance study of lead artefacts. Combining the results from this study with the existing typological classification certain conclusions about the production and distribution of lead anchors in the Aegean region are made.     

Application of radiometric method for element migration determination from plastic packaging to food

In the present study, a radiometric method was applied for element migration determination from food plastic packaging to simulating solutions and foodstuffs. This method consisted of irradiating plastics with neutrons, its exposure for migration and radioactivity measurements in the food or food-simulating solutions. The migration was studied for water, juice, soft drinks, acidic fatty food and dairy product plastic packages. The results indicated Co, Cr and Sb migration to the simulating solutions and food. However, the contamination of these elements in food from packaging material was lower than the maximum limit values established by the Brazilian Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) legislation.     

Elemental analysis of hair using PIXE-tomography and INAA

3D quantitative elemental maps of a section of a strand of hair were produced using a combination of PIXE-Tomography and simultaneous On/Off Axis STIM-Tomography at the University of Surrey Ion Beam Centre. The distributions of S, K, Cl, Ca, Fe and Zn were determined using the PIXE-T reconstruction package DISRA. The results were compared with conventional bulk PIXE analysis of tomographic data as determined using Dan32. The overall concentrations determined by PIXE were compared with elemental concentrations held in the University of Surrey Hair Database. All the entries currently in the database were produced using INAA. The merits and possible contributions of tomographic PIXE analysis to analysis of hair are discussed. The conclusions drawn from the PIXE-Tomography analysis can be used to argue for more stringent procedures for hair analysis at the University of Surrey.     

Comparative evaluation of the possibilities of INAA, ED-XRF, ICP-AES and AAS in the analysis of plants

The usefulness of INAA, radionuclide ED-XRF, ICP-AES and AAS are comparatively evaluated for the determination of nutrients, essential and trace elements in various plant matrices. The comparison is performed by analysis of the following reference materials: NIST-SRM-1573, NIST-SRM-1575, NIES-1, NIES-3, NIES-6, IAEA-V-10 and Bowen's kale. The detection limits, accuracy and precision of the methods are discussed and a combination of INAA and GFAAS is recommended for analysis of plants for monitoring purposes.     

Validation of INAA and AAS analysis protocols for whole blood: A study on cardiovascular and malignant hypertensive patients

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) were used to verify the protocols for the quantification of zinc and magnesium in human whole blood. A study was conducted on group of volunteers consisting of 131 patients having cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and 23 malignant hypertension (MH) patients along with 432 control subjects with 218 male and 214 females. The elemental data of these elements has been exploited to establish the base line values in control subjects. The possibility of any relationship between blood Mg and Zn levels with CVD and MH has also been investigated. The mean blood Mg and Zn levels were found to be depleted in both CVD and MH patients as compared to normal subjects. In our findings Mg and Zn were found to have an inverse relation with systolic and diastolic pressure. The reliability of the methods was checked by the concurrent analysis of the IAEA reference material (RM) employing the optimized INAA and AAS protocols. The determined values by both techniques were found to be in good agreement with the IAEA reference values. The elemental data in whole blood samples of normal volunteers has also been compared with Mg and Zn contents reported by other countries.