Preliminary study of trace elements in human brain tumor tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Elemental profiles of brain tumor tissues from 15 patients of astrocytomas (grade I–III) and normal human brain tissues of 23 male age matched autopsies as controls have been studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The SLOWPOKE reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 8·10¹¹n·cm^–2·s^–1 and swimming pool type reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 1·10¹³n·cm^–2·s^–1 were used for short and long irradiation of samples, respectively. Spectrophotometry was only used for analyzing phosphorus. A total of 18 elements Se, Na, K, Br, Cl, Mn, Mg, S, Ca, Cu, Hg, Cr, Fe, Rb, Zn, Co, Sc and P has been determined for this purpose. The reliability of methods has been checked by analyzing biological standard reference materials horse kidney (IAEA H-8) and bovine liver (NBS SRM 1577a). The analytical results showed that compared with the normal brain tissues, concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Br and Sc were significantly higher in tumor tissues (P<0.01) and concentrations of Rb, K and P were lower, while no differences for contents of Mg, S, Cr, Hg, Na and Cl were observed. A negative correlation between P and Ca in malignant and normal brain tissues was observed.     

Determination of trace elements in human nail clippings by neutron activation analysis

In this work instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied todetermine trace elements in nail clippings and to make a comparison betweenthe results obtained from samples from healthy children and those with cysticfibrosis (CF) disease. The findings indicated that fingernails from the CFgroup present higher concentrations of Cl, Cr, K and Na than those found inthe control group. On the other hand, the lowest concentrations for Cr werefound in the CF group. For the Al, As, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, Se and Zn elementsthere were no differences between the results obtained for the CF and controlgroups. The quality control of the results was evaluated by analysing NIST1577b Bovine Liver and NIST 1566a Oyster Tissue standard reference materials.     

Determination of trace elements in tobacco using different techniques of neutron activation analysis

Quantitative data on trace elements in two tobacco leaf (candidate) reference materials OTL-1 and VTL-2 prepared by the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warsaw, Poland, are presented and compard to recommended values, where available. By instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), as well as by radiochemical technique (RNAA) 30 elements were quantitatively determined and fair agreement was found between the results and recommended values for the first material.     

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.     

Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and Ge(Li) spectrometry have been used to determine Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Sb, Eu, Au, Hg, and U in crude petroleum. The technique involves no chemical separations and no pre-concentration of the samples by ashing is necessary, thus avoiding contamination or loss of volatile elements. The estimated detection limits in ppb for the elements are Sc (0.1), Cr (0.16), Fe (400.0), Co (0.6), Ni (1.1), Zn (200.0), As (6.0), Se (23.0), Sb (1.0), Eu (0.58), Au (0.11), Hg (4.3), U (1.5). Precision values ranged from 0.1% to 15% (relative standard deviation). Interferences in the Co and Fe determinations due to fast neutron reactions (n, p) and (n, α) on Ni isotopes are small and are easily corrected. Losses of As, Se, and Hg due to escape of volatile gases during irradiation are negligible     

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.     

Determination of trace elements in petroleum by neutron activation analysis

Using thermal neutron activation and a large-volume high-resolution Ge(Li) γ-ray spectrometer, the feasibility of the determination of the concentrations of Na, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cu, Ga, and Br in crude oils has been demonstrated. This instrumental method, which requires neither a chemical separation technique nor pre-concentration or post-concentration of trace elements by ashing, eliminates many inherent errors associated with chemical determination. The method is sensitive, precise and suitable for routine analysis. Fast neutron (n, p) and (n, α) reactions do not appreciably interfere and where necessary corrections may be applied. Loss of volatile elements, e.g. chlorine and bromine, due to recoil during irradiation is negligible.     

Determination of trace elements in cardiotonic drugs by neutron activation analysis

Potassium may be intimately involved to the action of cardiac glycosides. Chlorine and potassium also act as diuretics. The elements chlorine, manganese, potassium and sodium are determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in all the cardiotonic drugs which are currently used in Greece. All the available pharmaceutical forms of these drugs were analysed (pills, injections, water solutions). It has been found that there is a wide variation among the different values for managanese, sodium and chlorine while for potassium values are relatively constant. Results are discussed from the pharmacological point of view. It is proposed to study the role of manganese in cardiotonic drugs as well as the effect of potassium addition in oral pharmaceutical form of cardiotonic drugs in decreasing the toxicity of cardiac glycosides.     

Determination of trace elements in fish by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis, INAA, was utilized for the determination of Al, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sc, V and W in 12 Tilapia Nilotica samples collected from the Aswan High Dam Lake following the destructive techniques.     

Determination of trace elements in tea leaves by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been employed to determine 14 trace elements in two brands of Iranian and foreign tea. The elements are: Br, La, Ba, K, Mn, Cl, Cr, Cs, Rb, Fe, Co, Zn, Sc and Au. The transference ratio of the elements into solution, when tea is leached by percolation, is also reported. It was found that some elements are totally transferred into solution and some are partially retained by the leaves.     

Determination of trace elements in surface water by neutron activation analysis

In order to assure the public health, simple and relibable analytical methods must be established for effective surveillance of polluted surface water. Since the pollutants in surface water are usually found at ultratrace levels, preconcentration is generally required to ensure the quality of the analytical results. An analytical procedure consisting of preconcentration using hydrous magnesium oxide followed by neutron activation analysis has been proposed and applied to the determinations of trace elements in surface water.     

Determination of trace elements in marine organisms by neutron activation analysis

The content of Na, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Br, Sb, Cs, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Lu and Hf inEunicella cavolinii, Cladocoro cespitosa, Cystoseira barbata, Zostera marina, Posidonia oceanica andUlva lactuca was found to be approximately 3–5 orders of magnitude higher than reported for sea water, as determined by nondestructive neutron activation analysis (NNAA). The relative amounts of these elements in all organisms investigated are very similar and reflect their ratio in the media. Rare earth elements, however, are an exception and their accumulation appears to be specific. Among the organisms investigated,Zostera marina has the highest capacity for accumulation of most elements determined and thus may be used as an “indicator” organisms.     

Determination of trace elements in chewing gum by neutron activation analysis

Six trace elements of nutritional or toxicological interest (aluminium, calcium, chlorine, manganese, sodium and strontium) have been determined in three different brands of chewing gum by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Unlike graphite furnace atomic absorption, neutron activation requires essentially no treatment of the gum sample prior to analysis. As a result, most of these elements may be quantitated in only a few minutes. For the particular brands of gum examined, none of the detected elements was found to be present at a level representing a substantial contribution to the total dietary intake of the element for an American adult.     

Determination of trace elements in beach asphalts by neutron activation analysis

The feasibility of using trace multielement data obtained from neutron activation analysis to identify the source of crude oil residues was recently demonstrated. This paper presents the concentrations of Br, Co, Cr, Sb, Sc, Zn, and V/Ni, for 30 crude oil residues collected from beaches (beach asphalt), using 1 g samples. The method does not require chemical separation or post-irradiation concentration. The average standard deviation for the V/Ni ratio was ±0.39.     

Determination of trace elements in carbonates by instrumental neutron activation analysis

A systematic non-destructive determination of eighteen trace elements (F, Na, Cl, Sc, Mn, Zn, Br, Sr, I, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Th and U) in carbonate samples by thermal neutron activation analysis was developed. Three 0.2–0.5g samples were irradiated for 15 sec (in the case of determination of F), for 3 min (in the case of Na, Cl, Mn, Sr and I) and for 60 hrs (in the case of Sc, Zn, Br, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Th and U) in the TRIGA MARK II Reactor at a thermal neutron flux of 5·10¹¹ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹ (15 sec and 3 min irradiation) and 1.5·10¹²n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹ (60 hrs irradiation), respectively. According to the half life of the nuclides formed, the activities were measured with a Ge(Li) spectrometer as follows,²⁰F∶15 sec counting after 20–25 sec cooling,²⁴Na,³⁸Cl,⁵⁶Mn,^87mSr and¹²⁸I∶600 sec couting after 30–120 min cooling,⁸²Br,¹⁴⁰La,¹⁵³Sm,¹⁷⁵Yb and²³⁹Np (daughter of²³⁹U)∶3000 sec counting after 1 week cooling,⁴⁶Sc,⁶⁵Zn,¹³¹Ba,¹⁴¹Ce,¹⁵²Eu,¹⁶⁰Tb and²³³Pa (daughter of²³³Th)∶5000 sec counting after 1 month cooling. The errors due to the fluctuation of the neutron flux and the counting geometry were minimized by the use of calcium determined previously with EDTA-titration as an internal standard. The interferences from²⁴Mg(n, p)²⁴Na and²³⁵U(n, fission) reactions were corrected by the activities produced by the reactions in unit weight of magnesium and uranium, and their concentrations in samples measured experimentally. The data of Na, Mn, Zn and Sr were compared with the results obtained by atomic absorption analysis.     

Determination of trace elements in biological material by neutron activation analysis

Eighteen trace elements in biological material [grass /Imperata cylindrica/, mimosa plant /Mimosa pudica/, rice] by neutron activation method were determined. In the comparative analysis, we found the content of the same elements was different in the each material, although they were collected at the same place and the same sampling method was applied.     

Determination of elements in bovine tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was carried out to obtain the normal concentration of trace elements in bovine tissues (heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes) and serum. Concentrations of 17 elements were determined. In this paper, concentrations of Al, Br, Cs, In and Rb are given and correlations of concentrations are discussed between Cl and Br and between K and Cs or Rb. Significant positive correlations have been found between Cl and Br concentrations in all tissues, between K and Cs concentrations in tissues excluding kidney, and between K and Rb concentrations in tissues excluding liver.     

Determination of trace elements of egyptian crops by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis, NAA, a high resolution Ge(Li) gamma ray spectrometer was used to determine the concentration of Al, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, La, Mn, Mo, Sb, Se, W, and Zn in Cumin, coriander, carrots, and Daucus carrota (Umbelliferae Family), alfalfa, Kidney bean, Phaseolus sativus, Phaseolus vulgaris, bean, lenses, and fenugreek (Legumirosae Family). Multielement determination technique on destructive and nondestructive samples was followed. This method is simple, precise and sensitive to 17 trace elements.