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Use of Multiple Irradiations and Reference Materials as Comparators in Quality Control of Neutron Activation Analysis Data of Biological Samples

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Abstract

We propose that several different reactor irradiation times followed by assaying of activity for differential counting periods may be employed for quality control (QC) of neutron activation analysis (NAA) data of biological samples. It is also recommended that three to four reference materials (RMs) of similar matrix but from different agencies such as National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, USA), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, Vienna), Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (INCT, Poland), and National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES, Japan) including a synthetic multielemental primary standard should always be analyzed simultaneously along with the samples. Finally, the mean ± σ values so obtained may be considered as more reliable after statistical analysis. Our analytical data for Na and K in three RMs (SRM 1572, CRM H-9, and Bowen’s Kale) using different irradiation periods of 15 m, 2 h, 6 h, and 1 day were comparable with the certified values within error range of + 0.2 to − 2.7%. We report our data for 20 elements in two candidate RMs corn flour (INCT-CF-3) and soya bean flour (INCT-SBF-4) from the INCT, Poland, where Z-score values for most elements are in reasonable range of certified values.

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Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are due to Board of Research in Nuclear Science (Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India) for grants-in-aid at RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur (37/13/91-G) and Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (2000/37/5/BRNS). RPC is thankful to MHRD for grant of research fellowship. Our sincere thanks to Drs SB Manohar, AVR Reddy, and R Acharya for providing irradiation and counting facilities at the Radiochemistry Division, BARC, Mumbai.

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Author notes

  1. A. N. Garg

    Present address: C 5A/GF Parsvnath Paradise, Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, 201007, UP, India

  2. Vivek Singh

    Present address: Filtrex Technologies Pvt. Ltd, HRBR LO, 36/4 Raghavendra Nagar, Kalyan Nagar, Bangaluru, 560043, India

  3. R. P. Choudhury

    Present address: Head Finished Product Laboratory, L’Oreal Research Centre Charles Zviak, 13 RueDora Mar, 93400, Saint-Quen, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, 247667, India

    A. N. Garg & R. P. Choudhury

  2. Department of Chemistry, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, 440010, India

    Vivek Singh

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Contributions

ANG—conceptualization, planning, project management, editing, and reviewing including overall supervision.

VS—sample collection, preparation for irradiation, experimental work at BARC, Mumbai, data compilation, statistical analysis, and draft writing.

RPC—sample preparation for irradiation, experimental work at BARC, Mumbai, data compilation, statistical analysis, and draft writing.

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Correspondence to A. N. Garg.

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Garg, A.N., Singh, V. & Choudhury, R.P. Use of Multiple Irradiations and Reference Materials as Comparators in Quality Control of Neutron Activation Analysis Data of Biological Samples. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 2674–2681 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03340-1

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