Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10574490 | Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry | 2005 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
A biomarker of aluminium accumulation in the human body can play a valuable role in determining health effects of chronic aluminium exposure, complementing other human and environmental monitoring data. In vivo neutron activation provides such a non-invasive biomarker. To date, the best in vivo neutron activation system used thermalised neutrons from a nuclear reactor at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which suffered only slightly from interference from other elements, primarily phosphorus, and from the disadvantage of restricted accessibility. At McMaster, we use a nuclear reaction on an accelerator to select neutron energy, which eliminates the interferences. Spectral decomposition analysis improved sensitivity. A new 4Ï detection system also enhanced sensitivity. Together these improvements yield a minimum detection limit of 0.24Â mgAl in a hand, slightly better than at Brookhaven and equivalent to “normal” levels. Further improvements should result from a new irradiation cavity and from using a higher proton current on the accelerator to shorten irradiation times. The system is now ready for pilot human studies.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Authors
A. PejoviÄ-MiliÄ, S.H. Byun, D.C. Comsa, F.E. McNeill, W.V. Prestwich, D.R. Chettle,