Concentrations of 137Cs^{137}Cs, 40K^{40}K radionuclides and some heavy metals in soil samples of Chochołowska Valley from Tatra National Park

This paper presents the results of determination of artificial $^{137}Cs$ and natural $^{40}K$ activity concentrations and some heavy metals in soil samples from the region of one of the main valleys of Tatra National Park (Chochołowska). Our investigation concentrated on $^{137}Cs$ and heavy metal levels in mountain soil taken from Chochołowska Valley, which revealed great variability in their concentration. The results show considerably small amounts of radionuclides $^{137}Cs$ and $^{40}K$ in the soils. Larger amounts of those elements can be found in the organic surface horizons of the soils. The evaluation of the content of those elements must be based on the bulk density analysis of the soil

Neoplastic disorders of prostate glands in the light of synchrotron radiation and multivariate statistical analysis

10.1007/s00775-011-0807-6Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry1681187-1196JJBC

Zinc in prostate cancer: The study based on synchrotron radiation techniques

Zinc: Characteristics, Uses and Benefits29-5

Trace element distribution in the rat cerebellum

Spatial distributions and concentrations of trace elements (TE) in the brain are important because TE perform catalytic structural functions in enzymes which regulate brain function and development. We have investigated the distributions of TE in rat cerebellum. Structures were sectioned and analyzed by the Synchrotron Radiation Induced X-ray Emission (SRIXE) method using the NSLS X-26 white-light microprobe facility. Advantages important for TE analysis of biological specimens with x-ray microscopy include short time of measurement, high brightness and flux, good spatial resolution, multielemental detection, good sensitivity, and non-destructive irradiation. Trace elements were measured in thin rat brain sections of 20-micrometers thickness. The analyses were performed on sample volumes as small as 0.2 nl with Minimum Detectable Limits (MDL) of 50 ppb wet weight for Fe, 100 ppb wet weight for Cu, and Zn, and 1 ppM wet weight for Pb. The distribution of TE in the molecular cell layer, granule cell layer and fiber tract of rat cerebella was investigated. Both point analyses and two-dimensional semi-quantitative mapping of the TE distribution in a section were used

The role of high-energy synchrotron radiation in biomedical trace element research

This paper will present the results of an investigation of the distribution of essential elements in the normal hepatic lobule. the liver is the organ responsible for metabolism and storage of most trace elements. Although parenchymal hepatocytes are rather uniform histologically, morphometry, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and microdissection with microchemical investigations have revealed marked heterogeneity on a functional and biochemical level. Hepatocytes from the periportal and perivenous zones of the liver parrenchyma differ in oxidative energy metabolism, glucose uptake and output, unreagenesis, biotransformation, bile acid secretion, and palsma protein synthesis and secretion. Although trace elements are intimately involved in the regulation and maintenance of these functions, little is known regarding the heterogeneity of trace element localization of the liver parenchyma. Histochemical techniques for trace elements generally give high spatial resolution, but lack specificity and stoichiometry. Microdissection has been of marginal usefulness for trace element analyses due to the very small size of the dissected parenchyma. The characteristics of the high-energy x-ray microscope provide an effective approach for elucidating the trace element content of these small biological structures or regions. 5 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab

Correlation of trace elements in hair with colon cancer

The trace element content of 116 hair samples from patients with colon cancer and from referent series of patients who had a variety of other diseases were measured using proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE). The patients had been on largely uncontrolled diets, and the interest was whether there were differences in trace element concentrations attributable to the effects of colon cancer. The concentrations of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Rb were determined using a beam of 2.5-MeV protons. Minimum detectable limits (MDL) of 0.3 ppM were obtained for Zn and Se. Cluster analysis of the data set did not reveal any significant differences between the cancer and control groups. Mean values and ranges obtained for the elemental concentrations show good agreement with other published determinations. 20 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs

Environmental studies of iron in sediments by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy

International Journal of Environmental Research82263-27

Elemental concentrations in bones from an ancient Egyptian mummy and from a recent man

Differences in elemental concentrations in bones taken from an ancient Egyptian mummy and a contemporary man were investigated by using proton induced x-ray emission (PIXE) in combination with Rutherford backscattering (RBS). Remarkable differences were noticed in the Fe/Ca and Pb/Ca relative concentrations, which were consistently higher in the contemporary man. 5 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs

Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Dobczyce reservoir

Osady denne stanowią istotny składnik środowiska wodnego, akumulując składniki mineralne, w tym metale ciężkie. Zbiornik Dobczycki, będąc rezerwuarem wody pitnej dla aglomeracji krakowskiej, spełnia bardzo ważną funkcję gospodarczą. W badaniach osadów dennych Zbiornika Dobczyckiego wykonano analizę wierzchniej ich warstwy w 17 punktach pomiarowych. Pozwoliło to na opisanie dystrybucji metali w czaszy zbiornika oraz ocenę czynników warunkujących tę dystrybucję. Analizę wykonano dwoma metodami: metodą atomowej spektrometrii absorpcyjnej oraz metodą PIXE. Stwierdzono, z wykorzystaniem narzędzi statystycznych, że ze względu na stężenie metali, punkty poboru próbek można podzielić na dwie grupy: leżące poza dawnym nurtem rzeki Raby (niższe stężenia metali ciężkich) oraz usytuowane w dawnym nurcie rzeki (wyższe stężenia). Odpowiada to zmieniającym się właściwościom sorpcyjnym osadów, zależnym m.in. od uziarnienia, składu chemicznego i mineralnego oraz zawartości materii organicznej. Zastosowanie metody PIXE umożliwiło wykonanie wielopierwiastkowej analizy składu bez wstępnej procedury przygotowania próbek, z wystarczającą czułością oznaczeń, lecz mniejszą precyzją niż metoda ASA. Metody te mogą być komplementarne z punktu widzenia potrzeb analiz środowiskowych.Sediments constitute important part of water systems, accumulating mineral compounds, such as heavy metals. Dobczyce Reservoir, being the main drinking water source for the city of Krakow, is important from the economical point of view. In the present research, analysis of elemental composition of sediment samples (upper 10 cm layer) in 17 sampling points was performed. It enabled us to analyse distribution of analysis of elements in Dobczyce Reservoir and to assess what factors influenced that distribution. The analysis was carried out by means of two instrumental methods, namely PIXE and ASA. Based on the statistical analysis of the results, it was found that all the sampling points could be divided into two groups – one situated out of the Raba river current (characterized by lower concentration of elements) and the other along the river current (higher concentration of elements). Such a division results from the differences in chemical and mineralogical composition of sediments as well as from their organic matter content and physical properties. The use of PIXE method makes it possible to analyze sediments in a multielemental mode without sample pretreatment, obtaining satisfactory sensitivity but less precision than with the use of AAS method. Both methods could be considered as complementary in environmental analysis