Neutron activation techniques for the measurement of trace metals in environmental samples

On the Application of Neutron Activation Analysis in the Life Sciences

“…Preconcentration of the sample material is occasionally necessary in the determination of pollutants in the aquatic [42][43][44][45] or atmospheric [46] environment. Pre-irradiation separation procedures have been described which eliminate the interfering activities of chlorine and sodium in the instrumental analysis of biological samples in order to determine the short-lived radionuclides of the elements Al, Br, Cu, Mg, Μη, Κ and V [47], Nevertheless, it has to be pointed out that all pre-irradiation treatments of the samples bear the risk of contamination, especially if the elements to be determined are present in the ultra trace range (as it is the case for various elements in biological fluids).…”

“…The sensitivity of their determination can be increased by radiochemical isolation of the neutron activated tracer nuclide as it has been carried out in the measurement of S4 Fe, S8 Fe, 64 Zn, 68 Zn, 70 Zn, 74 Se, 76 Se and Se 80 in human feces, urine, plasma and red cells for human nutrition studies [57,59]. The enriched stable isotopes of 46 Ca and 4 8 Ca have been used to study the calcium metabolism in children having various bone diseases [60] and in the determination of the absorption of high calcium doses in healthy persons [61 ]. To measure the survival time of red blood cells enriched 50 Cr and 5 8 Fe has been used in the characterisation of erythrocytes of different ages [62].…”