Dietary intake of 25 elements by man estimated by neutron activation analysis

The trace element content of the total daily diet (food and beverages) of each of 4 adult males was determined over a period of one week. A method of radiochemical neutron activation analysis is briefly described which enables the determination of up to 31 elements in biological samples. Of the 25 elements determined in the diet 12 are essential elements (Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Se, Zn) while 6 (As, Ba, Br, Cd, Hg, Sb) are classified as toxic. The average concentrations of the toxic trace elements As, Cd and Hg of the diet are below the provisional tolerable dietary intakes recommended by WHO/FAO. The contents of Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na and Zn are adequate to the proposed nutritional requirements.     

Neutron activation as a routine method for the determination of trace elements in water

By freeze-drying the following elements can be determined in natural water except sea water: Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, K, La, Mo, Na, Sb, Sc, Se, U, Zn. Some problems may arise with respect to As and Hg. Cu, Cd and Ni can only be determined if present in high concentrations. Separation by adsorption on charcoal in presence of complexing agents gives yields between 75 and 100% for the following elements in sea water: Ag, Au, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Eu, Fe, Hg, La, Mo, Sc, Se, U, Zn (As 67%, Sb 56%). Activation or use of labelled ions and study of exchange give information about mobility of trace elements in suspended matter.     

Interlaboratory study of trace and other elements in the iaea powdered human hair reference material,HH-1

A powdered intercomparison material for trace element studies was prepared from human scalp hair and distributed to more than 100 laboratories of which 66 reported results for altogether more than 40 elements. By statistical evaluation of these data certified concentration values were derived for 20 elements, namely As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Sr and Zn. The data also made it possible to compare different methods of analysis and to judge the value of different levels of experience on the part of the analyst concerned; these comparisons are presented here with special reference to the elements As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Sb.     

Distribution of some major and trace elements in Danube Delta lacustrine sediments and soil

Sediment cores collected from lakes Mesteru and Furtuna (eastern part), Sontea channel and soil samples collected from Caraorman bar, all located in the Danube Delta, were analyzed for 42 elements (Ag, Al, As, Be, Na, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ce, Hf, Hg, Tl. Pb, Bi, Th. U) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), thick target proton induced X-ray emission (TT-PIXE) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The INAA and TTPIXE yielded total concentrations whereas the ICP-MS data reflected the fractions soluble in 14M HNO₃. The ICP-MS data exhibited surface enrichment relative to the lower part of the sediment core of Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi, most prominently by Cd and Hg. Their vertical distribution in the investigated cores generally reflected the pollution history of recent sediments in Danube delta, showing a steady increase until the end of the 1980s followed by a slow decrease after 1990. The vertical profiles of most remaining elements were characterized by a relatively uniform distribution along the cores. In some cases, the concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb exceeded minimum thresholds of safety, as defined by the Romanian regulations. The elemental composition of the sediment below 20 cm depth (total concentrations) was similar to that of the upper continental crust (UCC) for most elements. Values distinctly higher than UCC were observed for As, Sb (factor ~5) and Cr, Ni, Cu (factor 2 to 3). The nitric acid soluble element concentrations in the soil samples in some cases showed increased values at the surface as compared to 30 cm depth, either due to air pollution or to the action of plants. In no case a large contribution to the topsoil from atmospheric deposition was evident, indicating that the surface contamination of the sediments was mainly by riverine transport. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation of the Bovine Kidney and Bovine Muscle reference materials and the certification of element contents from interlaboratory comparisons

Results obtained in interlaboratory comparisons on candidate reference materials Bovine Kidney and Bovine Muscle, in which more than 32 laboratories participated employing atomic spectrometry, electrochemical, and nuclear analytical techniques, have been evaluated using combined statistical and analytical considerations. Certified and/or information values for the elements Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Pb, Rb, Se, and Zn have been established. Information on contents of the elements Al, As, Au, Cs, Li, Ni, Sb, Sn, Sr, and V is also presented.     

Multi-element determination in earthworms with instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: A comparison

Earthworms were collected from agricultural fields in Admont, Graz, Piber and Gumpenstein, Austria. Six earthworm samples were investigated with INAA and with ICP-MS in parallel for the element concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn. With both techniques 14 elements were analysed in a wide concentration range (ng/g to mg/g) GF-AAS and HG-AAS were used for verification of some element concentrations. A comparison of analytical results between INAA and ICP-MS was discussed. In general, good agreement between ICP-MS and INAA was obtained, the relative difference values of most of the elements are within ±20% range, however, a methodical error for the determination of Hg by ICP-MS was found.     

Radioactivation analysis of hair a means of biological monitoring of the environment

With the aim of indicating environmental pollution effects by heavy metals on humans using hair, nondestructive activation analysis was applied to 382 normal Japanese hair samples (background level). Elemental contents of hair could be determined for Ag, Al, As, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ti, V and Zn. As these elements in hair have wide concentration ranges, the differences in concentrations distribution between groups (sex, age, permanent treatment and regional difference) are discussed. A method for hair sampling is presented.     

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.     

马家塔矿煤层中有害痕量元素的质量分数特性

应用仪器中子活化（INAA）、电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱（ICP AES）和原子吸收光谱（AAS）对神华集团马家塔露天矿2-2#煤层中Hg、As、Se、Pb、Be、Cr、Cd、Ni、Th、U、Mn、Mo、Co、Sb和Br共15种有害痕量元素的质量分数进行测定。结果表明,绝大部分痕量元素的质量分数都明显低于中国煤中元素质量分数的平均值,只有Hg和Mn的质量分数偏高,其中Hg的质量分数异常高;通过分析痕量元素在煤层垂向剖面上的质量分数变化特性,揭示出痕量元素在煤层中分布的非均一性,分析了影响痕量元素分布与富集的因素;通过痕量元素之间以及与黄铁矿硫、Fe、Al、Ca、P的聚类分析,研究了痕量元素之间以及与煤中不同矿物组分之间的亲和特性。     

Some trace elements in the waters,marine organisms and sediments of the Adriatic by neutron activation analysis

A number of investigations of trace elements in the waters, organisms and sediments of the Adriatic, using neutron activation analysis with radiochemical, separations are reported. These include studies of Hg in mussels from the Northern Adriatic, of Hg and Se in edible animals from the Rijeka region, and of seven elements (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se and Zn) in marine invertebrates from the Slovene coast. Additionally, plankton, sediment cores and water samples were taken from a grid of stations covering the whole Adriatic and analyzed for 6 to 11 of the trace elements As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Sb and Zn (Hg only in water). Generally, levels found were not indicative of pollution as compared with oceanic samples, but some evidence of locally increased levels was found, especially for Hg. The levels of eleven trace elements in three marine Intercomparison samples prepared by the IAEA Monaco Laboratory are also presented.     

Determination of trace elements in marine plankton by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

A method has been developed for the determination of 23 elements in marine plankton in which inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source mass spectrometry (MS) was used to quantify the elements in the solution after digestion in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in sealed PTFE vessels in a microwave field. The procedure was validated by the analysis of a standard reference soil (SRM 2709 San Joaquin Soil) and a standard reference fresh water plankton (CRM 414). The method was applied to the analysis of several marine plankton samples grown under controlled conditions including several whose growth media had been enriched with selenium. Matrix induced signal suppressions and instrumental drift were corrected by internal standardization. The suitabilities of germanium, indium, rhodium, scandium and yttrium as internal standard elements were evaluated. Neither scandium nor yttrium could be used due to the presence of these elements in the samples, germanium was used for the determination of As, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se, Si and Zn, indium was used for Al, Ba, Ca, Eu, Sr, and Tl, and rhodium was used for Cd, Cr, Hg, Mg, Pb, Sb, Sn, and V. For Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Si, Sr, V, and Zn internal standardization did not completely compensate for the suppressive effect of the heavier elements and the solutions were diluted. However, for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Eu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn and T1, it was possible to obtain accurate results despite the 35-40% suppression in the signals. Isobaric overlap was only a problem in the cases of 42Ca and 78Se; 44Ca and 77Se, respectively, were used. Memory effects were only observed with Hg for which a nitric acid-sodium chloride solution was the most effective wash-out solution. The marine plankton samples were able to tolerate a higher concentration of Hg as the selenium concentration increased.     

微波消解-ICP-OES法测定汽车涂料中8种重金属

建立微波消解-电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)测定汽车涂料中Pb,Cr,Se,Ba,Sb,As,Cd,Hg含量的方法。以HNO_3-H_2O_2(体积比为4∶1)混合酸消解样品,各元素分析谱线:Pb 220.353 nm,Cr 267.716 nm,Se196.090 nm,Ba 233.527 nm,Sb 217.581 nm,As 189.042 nm,Cd 228.802 nm,Hg 184.950 nm。8种元素测定结果的相对标准偏差为2.02%~12.94%(n=6);对白色、蓝色、红色汽车漆样品进行加标回收试验,Pb,Cr,Se,Ba,As,Cd,Hg,的加标回收率为81.26%~99.79%,Sb的回收率为62.43%~87.61%。该方法快速、简便,精密度、准确度较高,可用于汽车涂料中重金属含量的监控。     

Determination of trace elements in food by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) methods have been developed for the determination of major, minor and trace elements in duplicate diets and individual food items. These include a cyclic instrumental NAA (CINAA) method for measuring Se content through its short-lived nuclide^77mSe; epithermal INAA (EINAA) for I and As; conventional INAA for Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sn and Zn; combination of EINAA and INAA for Al; radiochemical NAA (RNAA) for As, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Sb, Se and Zn; and preconcentration NAA (PNAA) for U and Th. Accuracy of measurements have been evaluated by analyzing a number of biological and diet reference materials. Multielement concentrations of diets and foods have been measured by these methods.     

The certification of the contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sb, Se, Tl and Cr in a city waste incineration ash

Summary The analysis of ashes being of increasing importance, a reference material was prepared from fly ash of a city waste incinerator. The procedures of preparation, homogeneity and stability testing are described as well as the way of certification of elements of major importance: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sb, Se and Tl.

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Zertifizierung der Gehalte an Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sb, Se, Tl und Cr in einer Stadtmüll-Verbrennungsasche

Zusammenfassung Da die Analyse von Aschen zunehmend an Bedeutung gewinnt, wurde von der Flugasche einer Stadtmüll-Verbrennungsanlage ein Referenzmaterial hergestellt. Die Methoden der Herstellung sowie der Homogenitätsund Stabilitätsprüfung werden beschrieben und die Art der Zertifizierung der Elemente von hauptsächlicher Bedeutung aufgezeigt (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sb, Se, Tl).

     

The distribution of trace elements in normal human liver determined by semi-automated radiochemical neutron activation analysis

The eight segments of five normal human livers are analysed for 25 trace elements by radiochemical NAA. This consits of an automated wet destruction of the samples and two distillations, followed by ion exchange procedures. Ru is used as triple-comparator for the standardisation. Short-lived and matrix-isotopes are standardised by the Bowen's kale powder. The results reveal that the coefficient of variation within the liver is smaller than 10% for the elements Cd, Cl, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Rb, Se and Zn. The highest range observed for the elements As, Br, Co, Cr, Hg, La, Mo, Na and Sb within a liver is smaller than the range observed between the five livers.     

Determination of trace elements in marine plankton by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

A method has been developed for the determination of 23 elements in marine plankton in which inductively coupled plasma (ICP) source mass spectrometry (MS) was used to quantify the elements in the solution after digestion in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids in sealed PTFE vessels in a microwave field. The procedure was validated by the analysis of a standard reference soil (SRM 2709 San Joaquin Soil) and a standard reference fresh water plankton (CRM 414). The method was applied to the analysis of several marine plankton samples grown under controlled conditions including several whose growth media had been enriched with selenium. Matrix induced signal suppressions and instrumental drift were corrected by internal standardization. The suitabilities of germanium, indium, rhodium, scandium and yttrium as internal standard elements were evaluated. Neither scandium nor yttrium could be used due to the presence of these elements in the samples, germanium was used for the determination of As, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se, Si and Zn, indium was used for Al, Ba, Ca, Eu, Sr, and Tl, and rhodium was used for Cd, Cr, Hg, Mg, Pb, Sb, Sn, and V. For Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Si, Sr, V, and Zn internal standardization did not completely compensate for the suppressive effect of the heavier elements and the solutions were diluted. However, for As, Ba, Cd, Co, Eu, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn and Tl, it was possible to obtain accurate results despite the 35–¶40% suppression in the signals. Isobaric overlap was only a problem in the cases of ⁴²Ca and ⁷⁸Se; ⁴⁴Ca and ⁷⁷Se, respectively, were used. Memory effects were only observed with Hg for which a nitric acid-sodium chloride solution was the most effective wash-out solution. The marine plankton samples were able to tolerate a higher concentration of Hg as the selenium concentration increased.     

藏药材白花龙胆花中微量元素的分析

对藏药材白花龙胆花中17种微量元素（Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Co、Ni、Se、Cr、Mg、Ca、K、Na、P、As、Hg、Pb、Cd）的含量作了测定。结果表明,白花龙胆花中含有较高的人体必需微量元素和常量元素,其中常量元素K、Ca、Na、Mg和微量元素Zn、Fe、Mn的含量均较高。     

Elemental composition of drinking water supplies in three states in Southeastern Nigeria

The levels of some trace elements; Co, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, Hg, Se, As, Ni and minor elements; Na, K, Ca and Mg were determined in public drinking water supplies (public taps and groundwaters) in three states in Southeastern Nigeria using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The mean levels of most of the trace elements in the groundwater samples were below the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality limits, the only exception being Hg whose mean value of 3.69 μg/l exceeded the WHO limit of 1.0 μg/l. Violations of the WHO limits were also observed for Fe, Zn, Se and Pb in some of the groundwater samples. In the public tap samples only Hg violated the WHO limit.     

Elemental content in wheat products of Al-Qusim region, Saudi Arabia using the INAA technique

Wheat is one of the most grown crops in Saudi Arabia. It is grown in various regions of the country. Accurate knowledge of the elemental concentrations in wheat and its products (bran and flour) is of great importance from a nutritional point of view. Wheat samples were obtained from the Al-Qusim region, 300 km northwest of Riyadh, and analyzed. Up to 50 elements (Al, Sb, As, Ba, Br, Cd, Ca, Cs, Cl, Cr, Co, Cu, Ga, Au, Hf, In, I, Ir, Fe, Mg, Mn, Hg, Mo, Ni, K, Rb, Sc, Se, Ag, Na, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Sn, Ti, W, U, V, Zn, Zr, Ce, Dy, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb) were determined in the wheat products. It was observed that the elemental content of bran was much higher than that of white flour.     

On the role of neutron activation analysis in the certification of a new reference material for trace-element studies,mixed human diet,H-9

A new biological reference material, which is representative of diets consumed in Finland, has been characterized by means of an intercomparison exercise conducted by the IAEA in the second half of 1985 and in 1986. Results for 35 elements received from 79 participants in 33 countries have been evaluated. A certificate of analysis has been issued with provisional certified values for 22 elements and information values for 2 elements. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) provided approximately one third of all the results reported. Instrumental NAA was used approximately 5 times as frequently as radiochemical NAA. Overall, NAA played an important role in providing useful data for the following 20 elements: Al, As, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, F, Fe, Hg, I, K, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se and Zn. In comparison with the main competing non-nuclear method (usually atomic absorption spectrometry), NAA showed a larger dispersion of results for Cd, Cu, K, and Mg, and a smaller degree of dispersion for Co, Cr, Hg, and Se.