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Detection of lead in Zea mays by dual‐energy X‐ray microtomography at the SYRMEP beamline of the ELETTRA synchrotron and by atomic absorption spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Reale Lucia,
Kaiser Jozef,
Pace Loretta,
Lai Antonia,
Flora Francesco,
Angelosante Bruno Antonella,
Tucci Adele,
Zuppella Paola,
Mancini Lucia,
Tromba Giuliana,
Ruggieri Fabrizio,
Fanelli Maria,
Malina Radomir,
Liška Miroslav,
Poma Anna
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20805
Subject(s) - beamline , absorption (acoustics) , synchrotron radiation , zea mays , synchrotron , spectroscopy , x ray , optics , chemistry , materials science , physics , biology , agronomy , beam (structure) , quantum mechanics
This study is related to the application of the X‐ray dual‐energy microradiography technique together with the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for the detection of lead on Zea mays stem, ear, root, and leaf samples. To highlight the places with lead intake, the planar radiographs taken with monochromatic X‐ray radiation in absorption regime with photon energy below and above the absorption edge of a given chemical element, respectively, are analyzed and processed. To recognize the biological structures involved in the intake, the dual‐energy images with the lead signal have been compared with the optical images of the same Z. mays stem. The ear, stem, root, and leaf samples have also been analyzed with the AAS technique to measure the exact amount of the hyperaccumulated lead. The AAS measurement revealed that the highest intake occurred in the roots while the lowest in the maize ears and in the leaf. It seems there is a particular mechanism that protects the seeds and the leaves in the intake process. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. This article was published online on 1 December 2009. An error was subsequently identified. This notice is included in the online and print version to indicate that both have been corrected 19 February 2010.