ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF TAIWANESE ARECA NUT AND LIMES WITH INAA

The popular areca nuts were sampled and their stuffed white and red li me were collected simultaneously from four marketplaces in Taiwan in d ifferent growing seasons. Samples of an:ca nut were treated via homoge nizer prior to freeze drying, about 100-150 mg each of the areca nut a nd lime were pad(ed into PE bag. Samples were irradiated with neutron flux about 10(12)n.cm(-2).s(-1). A total of 17, 18, and 13 elements wa s analyzed with INAA for white lime, red lime, and areca nut, respecti vely. The results indicated that Ca have the highest concentration in both limes. Most elements in collected samples have wide range of conc entrations among different seasons and marketplaces. It is suggested t hat the elemental concentration of areca nut and limes exists in diver gence originated from various farms in Taiwan. In addition, four eleme nts of Ca, Fe, Mg, and Sc are probably overtaken by persons having che wing habit of areca nut and their effects on oral cancer are discussed .