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Optimization of procedures for mercury-203 instrumental neutron activation analysis in human urine

  • Application of Radioanalytical Techniques to Biological and Biomedical Sciences
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Abstract

Mercury, a known neurotoxin, has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of such disease states as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. There is concern that the exposure to mercury vapor released from dental amalgam restorations is a potential health hazard. Measurement of mercury concentrations in blood or urine may be useful in diagnosis of mercury poisoning and in assessing the extent of exposure. This study describes the optimization of pre-neutron activation analysis procedures such as sampling, selection of irradiation and counting vials and acid digestion in order to minimize mercury loss via volatilization and/or permeation through containers. Therefore, the determination of mercury can be complicated by these potential losses. In the optimized procedure 20 mL of urine was spiked with three different concentrations of mercury, digested with concentrated nitric acid, and placed in polypropylene vials for irradiation and counting. Analysis was performed by subtracting the Se-75 photopeak contribution to the 279 keV Hg-203 photopeak and applying the method of standard additions. Urinary mercury concentrations in normal human subjects were determined to be of the order of 10 ng/mL.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 68105, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    A. J. Blotcky & J. P. Claassen

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 68588-0304, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

    A. G. Meade & E. P. Rack

  3. College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 68538-0740, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

    Y. K. Fung

Authors
  1. A. J. Blotcky
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  2. J. P. Claassen
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  3. Y. K. Fung
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  4. A. G. Meade
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  5. E. P. Rack
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Blotcky, A.J., Claassen, J.P., Fung, Y.K. et al. Optimization of procedures for mercury-203 instrumental neutron activation analysis in human urine. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 195, 109–116 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036479

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02036479

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