Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of human blood and liver tissue for copper, zinc and iron by the method of proton-induced X-ray emission analysis

  • Physical Methods Section
  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The method of proton-induced X-ray emission (or PIXE) analysis has been investigated with reference to the study of minor and trace elements in biological tissue. Methods of specimen preparation have been investigated, and optimum instrumental conditions arrived at. The lower limits of detection for lead and zinc in blood have been investigated and have been found to be approximately 0.3 and 0.1 ppm for lead and zinc respectively, for a proton energy of 2.5 MeV. The concentrations of copper, zinc and iron have been studied in normal and diseased human liver tissue. In cirrhotic tissue the copper levels are substantially raised. We note also a diminution in liver iron in a case of alcoholic cirrhosis associated with clinical anaemia; and a blood zinc deficiency in primary biliary cirrhosis. The results are discussed in relation to existing work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. B. JOHANSSON, R. AKSELSSON, A. E. JOHANSSON, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 84 (1970) 141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. K. ISHII, S. MORITA, H. TAWARA, T. C. CHU, H. KAJI, T. SHIOKAWA, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 126 (1975) 75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. J. D. GARCIA, R. J. FOTNER, T. M. KAVANAGH, Rev. Mod. Phys., 45 (1973) 111.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. N. A. DYSON, Phys. Med. Biol., 20 (1975) 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. R. T. BORO, S. J. CIPOLLA, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 131 (1975) 343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. K. KEMP, F. PALMGREN JENSEN, J. TSCHERNING MOLLER, N. GYRD-HANSEN, Phys. Med. Biol., 20 (1975) 834.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. A. E. SIMPSON, N. A. DYSON, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 146 (1977) 473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. E. MERZBACHER, H. W. LEWIS, in Encyclopaedia of Physics Vol. 34, S. FLUGGE (Ed.), Springer Verlag, 1958, p. 166.

  9. ICRP-23. Report of the task group on reference man, Pergamon, 1975.

  10. A. H. HUNT, R. M. PARR, D. M. TAYLOR, N. G. TROTT, Br. Med. J., 11 (1963) 1498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J. H. SHELDON, H. RAMAGE, Biochem. J., 25 (1931) 1608.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. S. SHERLOCK, Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System, Blackwell, 1968.

  13. W. L. ROBISON, L. R. AUSPAUGH, W. H. MARTIN, O. A. LOWE, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory Report, UCRL-51013, 1973.

  14. J. F. SULLIVAN, R. P. HEANEY, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 23 (2) (1970) 170.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. A. E. SIMPSON, Ph. D. Thesis, University of Birmingham, 1977.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Physics and Experimental Pathology, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, (England)

    N. A. Dyson, A. E. Simpson & J. T. Dabek

Authors
  1. N. A. Dyson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. E. Simpson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. T. Dabek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dyson, N.A., Simpson, A.E. & Dabek, J.T. Analysis of human blood and liver tissue for copper, zinc and iron by the method of proton-induced X-ray emission analysis. J. Radioanal. Chem. 46, 309–319 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02519897

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02519897

Keywords

Search

Navigation