Instrumental neutron activation analysis of rib bone samples and of bone reference materials

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nuclear Science

Background:

• Trace element analysis in bone is crucial for forensic investigations and understanding human health.
• Autopsy samples provide valuable insights into elemental exposure and physiological status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the concentration of various trace elements in human rib bone samples using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of lyophilization as a sample preparation technique for bone analysis.
• To assess the accuracy and precision of the INAA method for bone tissue.

Main Methods:

• Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was employed to quantify elements in rib bone cortical tissues.
• Samples underwent short and long irradiations using thermal neutron flux from the IEA-R1m nuclear reactor.
• Lyophilization was utilized for sample drying, and certified reference materials (NIST SRM 1400 and 1486) were analyzed for validation.

Main Results:

• The concentrations of Br, Ca, Cl, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr, Rb, and Zn were successfully determined.
• Lyophilization was confirmed as a superior drying method, preventing element loss.
• The INAA method demonstrated good precision and accuracy when compared to reference materials and literature values.

Conclusions:

• INAA is a reliable method for quantifying trace elements in human rib bones.
• Lyophilization is the recommended drying technique for bone samples in elemental analysis.
• The study provides valuable elemental data for human rib bones, contributing to forensic and biomedical research.