A sensitive method for the determination of Th in body fluids

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nuclear Chemistry

Background:

• Thorium (Th) is a naturally occurring radioactive element.
• Accurate measurement of Th in biological samples is crucial for health and environmental monitoring.
• Existing methods for Th determination may lack sensitivity or require complex procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a sensitive method for determining Thorium concentrations in human blood serum and urine.
• To establish baseline levels of Thorium in individuals from normal environments.

Main Methods:

• Neutron activation analysis (NAA) was employed for sample activation.
• A simple radiochemical separation technique was utilized for isolating Thorium isotopes.
• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or gamma spectrometry can be used for detection.

Main Results:

• The developed method demonstrated high sensitivity, capable of detecting as little as 0.025 ng of 232Th.
• Average Thorium concentration in blood serum was found to be 7.9 ng L-1.
• Average Thorium concentration in urine was determined to be 2.7 ng L-1.

Conclusions:

• The developed neutron activation and radiochemical separation method is effective for quantifying Thorium in biological matrices.
• The established baseline Thorium levels provide valuable data for human exposure assessments.
• This method offers a sensitive tool for toxicological and environmental studies involving Thorium.