Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Volume/Issue:
Volume 248: Issue 2
The determination of natural uranium in human tissues by recovery corrected kinetic phosphorescence analysis
Authors:
J. Elliston Washington State University United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries, Nuclear Radiation Center P.O. Box 641300 Pullman WA 99164-1300 USA

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S. Glover University of Pittsburgh Department of Environmental and Occupational Health 260 Kappa Dr. Pittsburgh PA 15238 USA

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R. Filby Washington State University Department of Chemistry P.O. Box 644630 Pullman WA 99164-4630 USA

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Pages:
487–491
Online Publication Date:
29 Oct 2004
Publication Date:
17 May 2001
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1010673318710
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Abstract  

Two typical methods used for the determination of uranium in human autopsy tissues are kinetic phosphorescence analysis (KPA) and alpha-spectrometry, both of which have significant limitations and advantages. KPA is limited because of the amount of sample used (1–10 ml for sample digestion followed by one ml KPA aliquots), no isotopic information is provided, phosphorescence degradation by salts in solution, and even more importantly, it does not provide chemical recovery information. For samples with sub ng uranium concentrations per g of inorganic material, preconcentration is necessary, which may require chemical recovery (other than simple evaporation). While alpha-spectrometry has very good radiometric detection limits for 238U, the very long half-life of 238U (4.468·109 y) restricts its mass detection limit (27 ng). KPA, on the other hand, has a detection limit three orders of magnitude lower (0.02 ng) for natural uranium. A recovery corrected method for the determination of natural uranium in human tissues was developed combining preconcentration of human tissues dissolved in 6M HCl by anion exchange with alpha-spectrometry and kinetic phosphorescence analysis, utilizing 232U as a tracer. Solution aliquots containing up to 6 g of bone ash were pre-concentrated for KPA measurement thereby allowing the use of up to 25% of the original sample solution weight for analysis by KPA. The radiochemical yield of 232U was determined by alpha-spectrometry and the uranium content was determined by KPA. The mean radiochemical yields obtained for human tissue samples range from 65% to 106% with a mean of 85%±8%.

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Cover Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Print ISSN:
0236-5731
Online ISSN:
1588-2780

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Journal of Radionalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 1968
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 12
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5731 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2780 (Online)

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