An overview of the relative neutron activation analysis performed in the NAA Laboratory of the CRND using NUR reactor

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis is a highly sensitive method for multi-elemental analysis, primarily focusing on the induced radioactivity in atomic nuclei rather than the inherent chemical and physical properties of samples. This approach requires exposing the sample to neutron irradiation, typically conducted within a nuclear reactor. One of the most successful applications of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) in the vicinity of the NUR reactor pertains to its use in environmental studies. It facilitates the monitoring of the distribution of trace elements (TEs) and the attribution of emission sources by analyzing samples from diverse environmental sources, including soil, air, and bioaccumulative plants collected from various locations near Algiers, Algeria. Since 2010, our laboratory has actively engaged in proficiency tests with WEPAL/IAEA, which has been instrumental in advancing and refining the methods of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) employed in this domain. The outcomes derived from these environmental investigations substantiate the presence of more than 30 trace elements. Comparing the enrichment factors (FEs) reveals the contribution of anthropogenic pollution, such as vehicles emitting Sb, Se, and Zn, brickyards releasing As, Co, Cr, Fe, Na, Se, Sc, Ta, and Tb, as well as soil resuspension leading to the release of Br and Zn. Additionally, our laboratory has conducted further studies in the realm of biology using the relative approach of NAA. The primary objective has been to harness the potential of NAA for early diagnosis in cases of cancer and chronic diseases. Consequently, we've examined the trace element composition in the whole blood of both healthy individuals and those afflicted by illnesses. We achieved this by subjecting lyophilized blood samples from adult subjects to simultaneous irradiation alongside an A13-IAEA blood standard. The elemental concentrations were subsequently calculated by measuring gamma rays using a gamma spectrometer. We simultaneously determines the concentrations of ten elements: Rb, Fe, Zn, Na, K, Br, Se, Sr, As and Sc.