Characterization of ear piercing studs and their corrosion products by neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis has been applied to analyse ear piercing studs manufactured with three different types of metallic materials and also in t he analyses of cell culture media in which these studs were immersed. Resul ts obtained in these analyses indicated the release of metal from the studs to the culture media. Zn and Fe were found; respectively, in the extracts of gold coated copper-zinc alloy and stainless steel. These findings were c orrelated with the results already obtained for studs surface analysis by s canning electron microscopy and for the cytotoxicity tests of culture extra cts.