I. Fatima

Determination of natural radioactivity in building materials used in the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area by γ-ray spectrometry and instrumental neutron activation analysis

Samples of sand and manufactured building materials collected from the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area have been analyzed for the primordial natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K using gamma-ray spectrometry. The uranium and thorium contents have also been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The specific activities of these radionuclides in the samples are compared with those of the world averages for soil. The comparison shows that, of the nine samples analyzed, only the three brick samples have higher activities than the world averages for soil. The specific activities in these materials, having a radium equivalent activity of less than 370 Bq kg-1, when evaluated for radiological effects show that all materials meet the external gamma-ray dose limitation of 1.5 mSv y-1. The gamma-spectrometric and INAA techniques complemented each other well in this study.

Trace Element Concentration in Egg-Yolk and Egg-White of Farm and Domestic Chicken Eggs

Abstract Instrumental neutron activation analysis technique was used for the determination of 21 trace elements in egg-yolk and egg-white of 90 farm and domestic chicken eggs. The range, arithmetic mean, geometric mean and median of each element were computed which indicate Gaussian distribution for Se, As, Sb, Cl, Fe, Zn, Na, K, Cs and In in each portion of the egg. The study indicates that the toxic elements are generally concentrated in egg-white whereas essential elements are mostly present in egg-yolk. The dietary intake of each element through farm egg was estimated and compared with daily requirement or tolerance levels.

Distribution of toxic and essential elements in various chicken organs

An instrumental neutron activation technique was applied to determine toxic, essential and other elements in various chicken organs namely; liver, heart, gizzard, breast and leg. The range, arithmetic mean, geometric mean and median were computed which indicate normal distribution pattern for Hg, Se, Cl, Fe, Zn, Mn, Na, K and Cs in the five chicken organs. The concentration of Hg, Se, As, Fe, Zn and Mn in local chicken liver were also compared with the literature values. Dietary intake value for toxic and essential elements were also computed and compared with the recommended values.

Radiochemical neutron activation analysis for trace elements of basic ingredients of pan

Extensive use of pan, by one-tenth of worlds population, entails the evaluation of trace element contents in its ingredients. Radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) was developed and successfully employed to determine the concentration of 36 trace elements (essential, toxic and nonessential) in its four basic ingredients, leaf of betel pepper, betel nut, catechu and lime. The radiochemical separation methodology has significantly improved the detection limits of most of these elements due to suppression of Compton background. This study provides the base-line values of certain toxic and essential elements in these ingredients. The daily intake of essential and toxic elements through pan was estimated and compared with the recommended values. The cumulative intake of Mn is four times higher than the recommended value and that of toxic elements is well below the tolerance limits.

Trace Element Analysis of Food Spices by Inaa: II. Solanaceae, Liliaceae, Zingiberaceae and Apiaceae Families

Abstract Extensive use of food spices in oriental and Latin American cooking, pharmacy, and perfumery entails the evaluation of trace element contents in them. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used to determine the concentration of 18 trace elements (essential, toxic and non-essential) in six different spices consumed in Rawalpindi/Islamabad area. Turmeric powder and ginger powder were found to contain relatively high amounts of essential elements and low amounts of toxic elements. The comparison of our values with Canadian and Egyptian data shows variation in trace element contents of red pepper, turmeric, coriander and ginger. The estimated dietary intake through food spices show that these may be considered appreciable sources of trace element intake due to their extensive use. With the present studies the investigation of trace element contents of 13 food spices has been completed.

INPUT OF MISSING TRACE ELEMENTS IN SOME IAEA/NBS BIOLOGICAL CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS USING INAA

IAEA and NBS biological certified reference materials have been analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis and concentration of 17 elements was determined. The elements determined were either completely missing or their certified values were not given in the original compilations. For quality assurance of our work, a comparison of data on missing trace elements in some of the CRMs has been presented. It seems that second round of analysis for the certification of these elements would be useful.

Trace Element Analysis of Food Spices by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. I. Trace Elements in Food Spices Belonging to Umbelliferae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Zingiberaceae and Lauraceae Families

Abstract Spices are extensively used in oriental and Latin American cooking and some of these are also used in pharmacy and perfumery. Therefore, concentrations of essential and toxic elements have been measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in seven different spices consumed in the area of Islamabad/Rawalpindi. Cumin and caraway seeds were found to contain relatively high amounts of essential as well as toxic elements. The comparison of our values with Canadian and Egyptian data shows variation in trace element contents of black pepper and cumin seeds. The studies show that these food spices are additional sources of trace element intake.

MEASUREMENT OF TRACE IMPURITIES IN HIGH PURITY MATERIALS

Neutron activation analysis was used for the determination of 29 trace impurities is high-purity semiconductor grade Ge and Si. In order to determine very low contents of uranium and thorium,239Np and233Pa activation products were separated using anion exchange and LaF3 coprecipitation methods. The impurity contents were found to be very low, and therefore their adverse effects would be negligible.

Simultaneous determination of hafnium and zirconium in low grade uranium ores using INAA

A non-destructive neutron activation analysis technique has been developed for the determination of hafnium and zirconium in low grade uranium ores. In order to calculate the fission contribution of235U, thermal neutron absorption cross-section /σa/ for94Zr has been determined. The study shows that 1 g of uranium produces the same activity as from 10.03 g of zirconium. Based on this fact, the degree of interferences have been calculated for each sample and the necessary corrections have been applied. The values have been compared with the reported IAEA and NBS values.

Elemental analysis of Anethum gravedlens, Sismbrium Irio Linn and Veronia Anthelmintica seeds by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been used to characterize As, Ba, Br, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hg, K, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn, and Sc in seeds of Anethum graveolens (Dill), Sisymbrium irio Linn. (Wild Mustard) and Vernonia anthelmintica (Iron Weed). Dill seed was found to contain high K while Wild Mustard has high Fe, Mn and Na levels. Iron Weed has highest Cl, Co, Cr and Zn content with least concentration of Fe.