Open AccessIn vivo neutron activation assembly design for quantification of trace elements using MCNP
Author(s) -
Sana Tabbassum,
Linda H. Nie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
physiological measurement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.674
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1361-6579
pISSN - 0967-3334
DOI - 10.1088/1361-6579/abc322
Subject(s) - neutron activation analysis , trace (psycholinguistics) , radiochemistry , neutron activation , in vivo , nuclear engineering , chemistry , materials science , neutron , nuclear physics , engineering , physics , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , philosophy , linguistics
Background : Trace and essential elements both play a crucial role in maintaining normal cellular and organ functions in human, while abnormal exposure to some of them is also potentially related to diseases, e.g. manganism . To study the association between elemental intake and health outcomes, accurate assessment of elemental uptake and storage in the human body is essential. Objective : Technology based on neutron activation analysis can be used for in vivo measurement of the trace elements given that the measurement system guarantees a low detection limit with an acceptable dose. This study aims to design and optimize a customized and portable deuterium-deuterium neutron generator-based irradiation assembly for the NAA of trace elements in vivo, using Monte Carlo simulations. Approach : The irradiation assembly includes a moderator, a fast neutron filter, a reflector, and shielding. The human hand phantoms doped with manganese (Mn) and potassium (K) are used to determine the respective elements' system sensitivity and detection limit. Main results : The calculated detection limit is 0.16 μ g Mn per gram dry bone (ppm) for Mn and 17 ppm for K, with an equivalent dose of 36 mSv to the hand for 10 min irradiation. Significance : This more sensitive in vivo neutron activation analysis system will detect trace elements in vivo.