Development of 26Al accelerator mass spectrometry for aluminium absorption experiments in humans

Abstract

We have used the 20 MV tandem Van de Graaff accelerator at the Daresbury Laboratory to conduct accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) on 26Al. The AMS technique has been applied in two studies in which 26Al has been administered to human subjects. The 26Al detection limit is ca. 3.8 × 10−18 g and the limiting 26Al:27Al ratio ca. 7.4 × 10−14. Calibration is linear over at least five orders of magnetude. A value for the gastrointestinal uptake of aluminium has been estimated (ca. 1%) and the characteristics of the renal excretion of aluminium over a 106 day period have been established.