Element contents in organs and tissues of Chinese adult men

This study was undertaken to provide reference values for relevant parameters of Chinese Reference Man. Eighteen kinds of major organ or tissue samples, including muscle, rib, liver, and so on, were obtained from autopsies of 68 healthy adult men living in four areas of China with different dietary patterns (Hebei, Shanxi, Sichuan, Jiangxi or Jiangsu provinces, including Shanghai City) who had just encountered sudden deaths. At the same time, whole blood samples were collected from 10 volunteers living in each of these areas. The concentrations of 60 elements in these samples were detected by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), neutron activation analysis (NAA), fluorometry (FL), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) techniques and necessary quality control (QC) measures. Based on obtained concentrations and reference values of these organ or tissue weights for Chinese Reference Man, the elemental burdens in these organs or tissues were estimated. As a summary report of a series of research studies for Chinese Reference Man, which included three steps (from 1996 to 2006), the concentrations of 60 elements in 18 main organs or tissues were determined and their elemental burdens in the organs or tissues and whole body were estimated. Furthermore, the organ or tissue distributions of some important elements for radiation protection were discussed. These results may provide more reliable and better representative bases than before for establishing related reference values of Chinese Reference Man and revising current reference values of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Reference Man. These basic data will also be very valuable for many other applications in radiation protection and other scientific fields.