Abstract
In Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis (IVNAA) has been investigated to measure aluminum levels in bone for several years. Aluminum, being a toxic element, should be routinely monitored in both clinical and occupational environments. The non-invasisve IVNAA technique developed at the McMaster University Accelerator Lab is currently being improved for future use. New sets of hand phantoms were prepared that closely resemble spectra that were collected from the hand of healthy subject. Following the IVNAA of aluminum phantoms, the technique was applied for the first time to measure bone A1 levels in 18 healthy subjects. The mean hand bone A1 concentration was determined as 28 µg A1/g Ca. The results were achieved with a dose equivalent of 17.6 mSv. Further investigations using an enhanced detection system and applying optimazation of the irradiation protocol with radiation dose up to 50 mSv showed that minimum detectable limit was improved to 0.10 mg A1.
Highlights
ObjectivesOne of the main goals of the present study is to produce a technique that is feasible to measure Al in subjects with a nonnal concentration of this element
Figure (5) depicts the calibration curve obtained for the set of Al phantoms with the following irradiation parameters: 100 JlA current, 180 s irradiation time, proton energy of 2 MeV, transfer time of 35 s, and 600 s of counting
The minimum detectable limit (MDL) obtained in these preliminary phantom measurements was well below the ICRP range, and the application of the technique of in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) was considered feasible for in vivo human studies
Summary
One of the main goals of the present study is to produce a technique that is feasible to measure Al in subjects with a nonnal concentration of this element. The aim of this study is to further develop a technique using IVNAA for the measurement of bone Al that would be suitable for general use in hospitals. The goal of this study is to investigate whether Al levels in bone could serve as a biomarker of exposure and .a means of monitoring exposed populations to this toxic element
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