Neutron activation analysis of trace elements in cataracts

The knowledge of the role of trace elements is a necessary condition for the investigation of cataract etiopathogenesis. The deposition of trace elements in eye lens may be influenced by many vital factors and, therefore, the effect of sex, age and locality on the content of these elements was investigated. The determinations of elements were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis, and the results were evaluated with the aid of statistical tests. The effect of locality being taken as a set of local ecological factors has been proved as a dominant factor.     

Neutron activation analysis of noble metals in vegetation

Detection limits are presented for the platinum metals in vegetation for different neutron activation analysis conditions, namely, short irradiation, cyclic and long irradiations both thermally and epithermally. These detection limits for instrumental neutron activation analysis are compared with those using preconcentration technique—dry ashing and fire assay and post irradiation separation of the platinum metals using Srafion NMRR in exchange resin. The results are evaluated for plant material and it is concluded that dry ashing followed by cyclic, epithermal irradiation for rhodium and palladium and long, thermal irradiations for osmium, platinum, iridium and ruthenium enable these elements to be detected in plants at background levels.     

Neutron activation analysis applied in sediment samples from the Guarapiranga Reservoir for metals and trace elements assessment

The Guarapiranga Reservoir is a very important aquatic system due to the fact that it is one of the main water reservoirs for South America’s largest city, São Paulo, Brazil. Guarapiranga basin is located within the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo and the reservoir itself is located in the Northern part of the basin occupying approximately 26 km². This reservoir is characterized by environmental impacts from urban invasion, industrial and sewage wastes, all of which seriously affect its water quality and, consequently, the sediment quality. Two collection campaigns were undertaken: April 2009 and June 2010. The samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in order to determine the following elements: major (Fe, K and Na), trace (As, Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Rb, Sb, Sc, Ta, Tb, Th, U and Zn) and rare earths (Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb). The organic matter and granulometric distribution were also evaluated and multivariate analysis was applied to the results. The study of elemental ratios indicated that the amount of elements present in the Guarapiranga Reservoir is mainly of detrital origin.     

Neutron activation analysis of organohalogens in Chinese human hair

To effectively extract organohalogens from human hair, two factors, the extracting time and hair length on the extraction efficiency of organohalogens were studied by neutron activation analysis (NAA) and gas chromatograph-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), respectively. Furthermore, the concentrations of extractable organohalogens (EOX) and extractable persistent organohalogens (EPOX) in hair samples from angioma and control babies were also measured by the established method. The results indicated that the optimal Soxhlet-extraction time for EOX and EPOX in hair was from 8 to 11 hours, and the extraction efficiencies for organochlorine pesticides in hair were in the order of powder >2 mm>5 mm. Also, the mean levels of EOC1 and EPOC1 in hair of the angioma babies were significantly higher than those in the control babies (P _EOC1<0.01; P _EPOC1<0.05), which implied the possible relationship between the environmental pollution and angioma.     

Neutron activation analysis for trace elements in foods

Food samples reflecting average food consumption by an adult in the southeastern, northeastern, central, and western parts of the United States were collected and prepared as if for consumption. The prepared foods were divided into twelve different food categories and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentration of Ca, Mn, Mg, Al, Na, K, Cu, Cl, Sb, Hg, Se, Fe, Zn and Co is reported for these food samples.     

Neutron activation analysis of hair failure of a mission

The presence and the concentration of trace elements in hair are subject to variations according to a number of factors. The primary investigations consist in a statistical interpretation of (1) the distribution of the oligo-elements in a homogeneous hair sample, (2) the distribution over one particular head, (3) the evolution in samples taken at successive intervals, (4) the distribution over a population. Our study was mainly concerned in the influence of the time factor, and revealed an unpredictable behaviour of the elements under investigation (As, Sb, Au, Mn, Hg, Cu). There was only one exception: Zn. This unpredictable behaviour of most of the oligo-elements is due to their being influenced by such external conditions as environment, washing, hair dyes, diet and drug intake. The identification of hair samples on the basis of concentrations so inconstant and easily influenced, is a most impromising endeavour. Furthermore the irregularity in distribution of the oligo-elements over the head of one and the same person is not of a nature to make things easier. The existence of these factors not only wellnigh excludes the possibility of an identification, but they furthermore make it difficult to confirm unequivocally that a hair specimen belongs to a given person, to the exclusion of any other.     

Neutron activation analysis of human hair for environmental purposes

The possibility of using human hair as a monitor for the pollution of the environment with metals is discussed. Analyzed are 15 cases by means of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. Elements Se, Cu, Ca, Na, Mn and S in Bulgarian hair are compared with those from other countries. Analyzed cases are divided into two groups: metal burdened and nonburdened. A difference in Na, Ca and Mn content in hair of both groups is observed. A value of Mn is outlined which indicates with a high probability the metal burden of a person.     

Neutron activation analysis of major and trace elements in crude petroleum

We have determined the concentration of 25 trace elements in crude petroleum from seven Libyan oil fields by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Crude oil samples were irradiated with a thermal neutron dose rate of 10¹² and 10¹³ n·cm^–2·s^–1 in the Tajoura research reactor. The concentration of U, Br, Mg, Cu, Na, V, Cl, Al, Mn and Ca is in a range of 0.015 to 84 ppm and that of sulphur of 0.12 to 1.8%. The elements Sc, Cr, Ni, Fe, Co, Zn, Ag, Se, Sb, Ba, Cs, Yb, Hf and Hg have a concentration range of 0.009 to 8747 ppb. The coefficients of variation are within 10%. The elements V and Ni occur as both porphyrin and non-porphyrin and the ratio of these two forms varies over a wide range. The V/Ni ratios are located between 0.17 and 6.67, which are comparable to the reported values for the crude oils from other countries.     

Neutron activation analysis of trace elements in Japanese hormesis cosmetics

In Japan, cosmetics claiming hormesis effect are available through Internet. Although these cosmetics show the contents, they never mention the minor elements and radioactive sources. The existence of radioisotopes, however, was observed by measurements of the gamma-rays with a HPGe detector. In this study, in order to clarify the contents of trace elements, the hormesis cosmetics including radioactive sources were analyzed using INAA, PGAA and NAA with multiple gamma-ray detection (NAAMG). Nineteen elements were analyzed quantitatively in hormesis cosmetics by INAA, PGAA and NAAMG and 16 elements were detected qualitatively by SEM-EPMA.     

Neutron activation analysis of platinum metals in airborne particulate matter

A method is described for the determination of Au, Pt, Pd, Ag and Ir in two atmospheric aerosol samples, namely in Ghent and in the Milanese intercomparison sample. After neutron irradiation the samples are fused with Na₂O₂. Gold is extracted with ethylacetate, Pt precipitated as (NH₄)₂PtCl₆ Pd as dimethylglyoximate, Ag as chloride and Ir separated by anion-exchange adsorption and batch extraction. Ge(Li) gamma-spectrometry is applied for all determinations. The concentrations in ng·g⁻¹ in the samples are respectively: Au: 49 and 3000; Pt: below 100 for both samples; Pd: 7 and 28; Ag: 6000 and 14 000; Ir: 2.5 and 1.3.     

Neutron activation analysis for bulk and trace elements in urine.

Problems in sampling urine for trace element analysis by neutron activation are systematically examined. Collection, storage, sample preparation and contamination hazards during irradiation are studied in detail. Three different sizes of urine samples are prepared for analysis, depending on the concentration and nuclear properties of the elements, and suitable multielement doped urine standards are used. As, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sc and Zn are determined. The extreme care given to sample collection, use of “ultra-clean” vials, and work in a dust-free room, allows consistent values to be obtained over long periods of time. A literature review of the amounts of forty elements present in urine per day is also given.     

Neutron activation analysis of 13 minor and trace elements in geological samples

A scheme of analysis for the determination of Na, Mn, U, Th, Hf, Sc, La, Ce, Eu, Tb, Co, Rb and Cs in geological samples using the neutron activation technique has been described. The results obtained in this work on eight geological standard rocks and a trachyte are presented and compared with literature data.     

Neutron activation method in the analysis of geological materials for noble metals

The paper is concerned with various applications of the neutron activation method in the analysis of geological samples for noble metals. A technique is suggested to estimate a priori detection limit values for noble metals in the nondestructive analysis of various samples. Also discussed are new schemes of separation and isolation of elements, the technique of obtaining comparison standards, and constraining factors in application of the method in terms of representation of samples to be analyzed.     

Neutron activation analysis of some of the biologically active trace elements in fish

Highly specific neutron activation analysis procedures involving post irradiation chemical separations were developed for the determination of Cu, Hg, Zn, Cd, As, Se and Cr in fish tissues. The procedures developed were used to determine the levels of these biologically active elements in some of the commercially important fish species of Lake Erie. The nuclear analytical procedures developed generally involved the irradiation of fish tissues followed by wet-ashing in the presence of nonradioactive carriers From the homogeneous solution of the tissue digest, the elements of interest were chemically isolated and the radio-activities were measured by scintillation gamma ray spectrometry. The results reported include both the determination of the precision and accuracies of each of these elemental analyses and a survey of these seven elements in nine major fish species of Lake Erie.     

Neutron activation analysis of neonate and maternal hair sampled in areas with different levels of pollution

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been performed on human head hair of newborns and mothers sampled in two areas with a different level of environmental exposure. The group of neonates from the exposed area (polluted by thermal power plants burning brown coal and by chemical industry) has exhibited higher levels of several trace elements in hair, e.g. Se, Zn, Hg and Sb in comparison with the control group. Moreover, the mean concentrations of Se, Hg, Zn and Br in neonate hair have been found to be higher than in mothers hair. Although the study revealed statistically significant differences in the composition of neonate hair sampled in areas with different levels of environmental exposure, the differences are relatively small. Only a thorough long-term study both with environmental and medical observations can prove a direct connection of the elevated levels of some trace elements in neonate hair with the higher frequency of mental diseases of children living in the exposed area.     

Determination of Hg and other trace elements in soil using neutron activation analysis

In the early 1950's, a federal facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, used a process that required the use of Hg to produce⁸Li. It was disclosed to the public in 1983 that about 2.4 millions pounds of Hg had been released into the ecosystem. The primary route of mercury into the environment was a stream, East Fork Poplar Creek, whose head waters are in the vicinity of the plant. As part of a study to determine the distribution of Hg as well as As, Cr, Sb, Se, U, and Zn along the flood plains of the creek, a procedure using neutron activation analysis was developed and is described below. The procedure, typical sample analysis results for Hg, and quality assurance and control data are discussed in this paper.     

Neutron activation analysis of mercury contents in head hair of dentists in Japan

Mercury contents in head hair of 58 dentists employed at the NUSD hospital and 50 dentists employed at the private hospitals or clinics were determined using neutron activation analysis. The arithmetic means were 5.8 ppm and 5.2 ppm, and geometric means were 5.4 ppm and 4.8 ppm, respectively. They were much lower than the values reported in the past year, and agreed well with those of normal Japanese men of the same age. Therefore, it was concluded that the mercury pollution in the working environment of dentists might be practically non-existent in Japan today.     

Photon activation analysis of trace metals in the livers and spleens of pigs

Nondestructive photon activation analysis with 30 MeV bremsstrahlung was applied to determine trace element concentrations in the livers and spleens of five pigs. Samples were freeze-dried, pulverized and fractionated into four groups corresponding mesh size; smaller than 60 mesh, 60–100 mesh, 100–200 mesh and larger than 200 mesh. Up to 9 elements in each fraction were analyzed. The concentrations of Br, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb and Zn in each liver fractions were almost constant, as were concentrations of Mg and Rb in spleens.     

Multi-element analysis of blood for trace metals by neutron activation analysis

Fourteen elements can be rapidly determined in whole blood by the neutron activation analysis procedure described. Three of these (Ag, Cl, Se) are measured after a 10-s irradiation and eleven others (Al, Ba, Br, Ca, Cu, I, Mg, Mn, Mo, Rb, V) are determined by a 180-s irradiation of a 1-cm³ sample of whole blood after destruction of organic matter and removal of sodium by hydrated antimony pentoxide. A further 13 elements (As, Au, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, K, Na, Ni, Sb, Sc, Zn) are determined after overnight irradiation in the SLOWPOKE reactor.