PIGE-PIXE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN-MILK

PIGE-PIXE nuclear techniques were employed for the determination of th e elemental composition of human breast milk which is the main source of nutrients to babies in Nigeria, Samples were collected from 32 heal thy lactating mothers from Obafemi Awolowo Teaching University Hospita l, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The samples were homogenized and immediately froz en, and then freeze-dried. Pellets were made using a Perkin Elmer inst rument and its accessory the 13 mm die. PIGE measurements of light ele ments were performed using 3.5 MeV collimated protons from the 7 MV CN Van de Graaff accelerator of INFN, LNL, Legnaro (Padova) Italy while PIXE analysis was carried out using 1.8 MeV collimated proton beam fro m the 2.5 MV AN 2000 Van de Graaff accelerator of the same Institute, The results show the presence of important elements that are essential for growth and development of babies, We searched for certain toxic e lements which include As, Cd, Hg, Pb, etc. because of their negative r oles in enhancing infant mortality rates, but none of them was detecte d except Pb.