Trace element load in cancer and normal lung tissue

Samples of malignant and benign human lung tissues were analysed by two com plementary methods, i.e., particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TRXRF). The concentration of trace elements of P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Hg and Pb was determined in squamous cancer of lung tissue from 65 people and in the benign lung tumou r tissue from 5 people. Several elements shows enhancement in cancerous lun g tissue of women in comparison to men, i.e., titanium show maximum enhance ment by 48% followed by Cr (20%) and Mn (36%). At the same time trace eleme nt concentration of Sr and Pb are declaimed by 30% and 20% in women populat ion. Physical basis of used analytical methods, experimental set-up and the procedure of sample preparation are described. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.