C. Koeberl et al., DETERMINATION OF RARE-EARTH AND OTHER TRACE-ELEMENT ABUNDANCES IN HUMAN KIDNEY-STONES AND BRAIN-TISSUE BY INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 169(2), 1993, pp. 269-276
We have used INAA to analyze more than 30 minor and trace elements in
10 human kidney stones (phosphate and oxalate types). In addition we a
lso analyzed human brain tissue samples for trace elements by INAA to
determine the limitations of the method. Samples were taken from the t
emporal and frontal cortex of the brain of a patient that suffered fro
m dialysis encephalopathy (where an increased Al content is expected),
as well as a number of control samples. Trace elements were analyzed
to study possible compositional differences other than the Al content.
The analyses were done using large volume HPGe detectors; because of
the low abundances, accuracy and precision vary between 3-80% for indi
vidual elements. We found a difference between the rare earth element
(REE) patterns for apatite and oxalate kidney stones, and a fractionat
ion compared to typical REE contents in plants. For the brain samples
there is evidence for differences between the dialysis patient and the
control samples not only for Al, but also for some other elements inc
luding the REEs, but most differences are minimal, and may not be sign
ificant.