V. Vijayan

Trace elemental analysis of carcinoma kidney and stomach by PIXE method

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in the biological samples of carcinoma kidney and stomach using particle induced X-ray emission technique. A 2 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. From the present results, the levels of elements K, Ca, Fe, Ni and Se are lower and those of the elements Ti, Co, Zn, As and Cd are higher in the cancer tissue of kidney than those observed in the normal tissue. In the case of stomach, the concentrations of elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu and Zn are lower while concentrations of elements Cr, Ni, As and Br are higher in the cancer tissue of stomach than those observed in the normal tissue. The observed deficiency or excess of certain elements is correlated to carcinogenesis of that organ. The present results of carcinoma stomach support the previous observations that nickel and chromium are carcinogenic agents. The low levels of selenium observed in the carcinoma tissue of kidney and the low levels of manganese observed in the carcinoma tissue of stomach support the view that selenium and manganese inhibit the growth of cancer in kidney and stomach respectively. The observed high levels of zinc in the cancer tissue of kidney suggest that zinc is involved in the tumor growth and development of neoplastic transformation in kidney while the observed low levels of zinc in the carcinoma tissue of stomach suggest that zinc inhibits the growth of cancer in this organ. For correctly assessing the role played by the trace elements in initiating, promoting or inhibiting cancer in various organs, there is a need for acquisition of more data by trace elemental analysis from several investigations of this type undertaken in different regions.

Trace elemental analysis of cancer-afflicted intestine by PIXE technique

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in the biological samples of cancer-afflicted intestine using the particle-induced X-ray emission technique (PIXE). A 2-MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. From the present results, it can be seen that the concentration of the elements Cr, Fe, and Ni are higher in the cancerous tissue of the intestine than those observed in the normal tissue, whereas the concentration levels of the element Zn is slightly lower in the cancer tissue of intestine than that observed in the normal tissue. The concentrations of S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Co, and Cu in the cancer tissue of the intestine are in agreement with those observed in the normal tissues within standard deviations. The present results support the previous observations that Ni and Cr are carcinogenic agents. The observed slightly low levels of zinc in the cancer tissue of the intestine suggest that zinc could possibly inhibit the tumor growth and development of neoplastic transformation. For correctly assessing the role played by the trace elements in initiating, promoting, or inhibiting cancer in various organs, there is a need for the acquisition of more data by trace elemental analysis from several investigations of this type undertaken in different regions.

Trace elemental analysis of adenoma and carcinoma thyroid by PIXE method

Trace elemental analysis was carried out in the biological samples of normal, adenoma and carcinoma thyroids using particle induced X-ray emission technique (PIXE). A 2 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the samples. The elements Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, I, Hg and Pb were identified and their concentrations were estimated. The concentrations of the elements Ca, Cu, Zn, As, I and Hg are found to be much lower in carcinoma thyroid than those in the normal thyroid while the concentration of the elements K, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Sr in carcinoma thyroid are higher than the concentrations in normal thyroid. The lower and higher values of some of the elements in carcinoma thyroid may be attributed to some pathological factors.

Trace metal distribution studies in river water by PIXE

Abstract Proton induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) has been used to measure the trace metals especially heavy metals in Chaliyar river water samples to assess the impact of pollutants from the industrial wastes. Water samples were collected in summer and rainy seasons from three different depths along the course of the river. Measurements were carried out with 2 MeV proton beam using a 3 MV tandem pelletron accelerator at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar. Results from the water Samples collected in both the seasons show that the concentrations of certain heavy metals like Hg, Zn and Pb are more than the prescribed limits. This is because of pollution due to industrial wastes, indicating a need for improvement in the industrial waste treatment.

57Fe Mössbauer and EDXRF studies on three representative banded iron formations (BIFs) of Orissa, India

Three representative banded iron formation (BIF) samples from different mines of Orissa, India have been studied using Mossbauer spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) techniques. Mossbauer spectroscopy, which quantifies goethite in iron-bearing phases, has also been used to find out the degree of weathering. The EDXRF analysis quantifies 16 trace elements, which have been used in determining the origin of formation of these deposits.

Quantitative multielemental analysis of titaniferous magnetites

Two representative titaniferous magnetite samples procured from Moulabhanj, Orissa, India have been studied by PIXE, EDXRF, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and XRD techniques. Major iron-bearing phases identified in the samples by Mössbauer spectroscopy and XRD are magnetite, hematite, ferrous ilmenite and ferric ilmenite. The Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and the relative percentages of different minerals were determined from the resonance areas of Mössbauer spectra. Quantitative multielemental analysis was carried out by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Nineteen minor and trace elements have been quantified by EDXRF whereas by PIXE eighteen elements have been analyzed quantitatively. Concentrations of trace elements determined by EDXRF and PIXE were used in interpreting the physico-chemical condition of the depositional basin.

PARTICLE INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION STUDIES OF ANTI-DIABETIC MEDICINAL PLANTS

Selected number of anti-diabetic medicinal plant leaves has been characterized by accelerator based particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. Validity of the technique was assured by analyzing certified plant reference materials (CRMs). A large number of trace elements like Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr and Pb are found to be present in these studied leaf samples with variable proportions. The concentrations of elements like K and Ca are quantified in percentage level whereas other elements are found to be in parts per million levels. Among the studied samples, the leaves of Methi are found to be containing maximum amount of trace elements.

PIXE analysis of trace pollutants in Chaliyar river water in Malabar, India

Abstract Analysis of trace elemental concentration in the Chaliyar river water has been carried out using the Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) spectroscopic technique. Water samples were collected from different locations along the course of the river during summer and rainy seasons. Samples were prepared by a preconcentration method. The PIXE analysis was carried out using 2 MeV protons. The details of the measurements and the results are presented in this paper.

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF RIVER SEDIMENTS BY PIXE AND PIGE

The Chaliyar river, located in Kerala, India has shown preoccupying pollution levels, that constitute a threat to public health and the ecological system. PIXE and PIGE techniques have been employed to measure the elemental concentrations in the river sediment samples. Thick targets were prepared out of the sediment samples collected from various sites along the course of the river. The measurements were carried out using 3 MeV proton beam obtained from 3 MV Tandem pelletron accelerator at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar. The elemental concentrations, especially that of heavy metals, at different sites are discussed in detail. Our results show that sediments from a site where the industrial activities are high are significantly high in concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg and Pb) than those collected from non-industrial sites. The measured values are compared with the average composition of unpolluted river sediments and other national and international river sediments.

PROTON-INDUCED X-RAY EMISSION STUDIES OF TWO REPRESENTATIVE FERROMANGANESE OXIDE ORES FROM EASTERN INDIA

Precambrian ferromanganese oxide deposits of India and Brazil were formed in optimum favorable geological situations at specific period of evolution. Two representative ferromanganese oxide ore samples have been collected from different mines of Precambrian Bonai-Keonjhar belt, Eastern India, and were irradiated with 3 MeV proton beam from a 3 MV pelletron accelerator at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India. The spectral data were analyzed by using GUPIX software package. About 20 major, minor and trace elements including Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo and Pb were quantified in these ores. The obtained Mn/Fe ratio and the content of the trace elements were used in interpreting the initial formation environment of the depositional basin.