• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.2042-2049
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• 2019

Ten gizzard and three flesh samples of the broiler were collected from different locations in Tehsil Gujar Khan District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The samples were dried, crushed and ground. Pellets were prepared by pressing the powder of the samples and that of the Bovine liver 1577c reference material obtained from NIST, USA. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) installed at National Center for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan has been used as a reliable and improved technique to determine concentration of various major/trace and toxic elements e.g. S, Cl, K, Ca, Cl, Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, Zn, Ti, Cd, Ga, Cr, V and Ni, in the Gizzard and Flesh samples of the broiler. The concentrations of all the detected elements in the samples are statistically significant. The certified and measured values of the elements in the reference material were in agreement with each other within a deviation of 7%. S, Cl, K and Ca are within tolerable limits and are good for human consumption. Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were more than the acceptable limits of World Health Organization, WHO whereas Ga, As, Sn, Sb and Pb are not detected in most of the samples.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.562-568
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• 2017

Background: The chemical characterization of metallic alloys and oxides is conventionally carried out by wet chemical analytical methods and/or instrumental methods. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is capable of analyzing samples nondestructively. As a part of a chemical quality control exercise, Zircaloys 2 and 4, nimonic alloy, and zirconium oxide samples were analyzed by two INAA methods. The samples of alloys and oxides were also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and direct current Arc OES methods, respectively, for quality assurance purposes. The samples are important in various fields including nuclear technology. Methods: Samples were neutron irradiated using nuclear reactors, and the radioactive assay was carried out using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Major to trace mass fractions were determined using both relative and internal monostandard (IM) NAA methods as well as OES methods. Results: In the case of alloys, compositional analyses as well as concentrations of some trace elements were determined, whereas in the case of zirconium oxides, six trace elements were determined. For method validation, British Chemical Standard (BCS)-certified reference material 310/1 (a nimonic alloy) was analyzed using both relative INAA and IM-NAA methods. Conclusion: The results showed that IM-NAA and relative INAA methods can be used for nondestructive chemical quality control of alloys and oxide samples.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2650-2655
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• 2023

In the process of growth and development, plants not only absorb essential nutritional elements, but also absorb radioactive and non-essential elements from the environment, and their distribution varies in different parts of the plant. In this study, neutron activation analysis and gamma spectrometry were performed on stems, roots, and leaves of vegetables. The results indicate that the accumulation of radionuclides and multi-elements depends on the plant type and plant parts. Activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th in plants were accumulated in the following order: Roots > Stems > Leaves. The highest concentrations of ⁴⁰K and ²¹⁰Pb were observed in the stems and leaves of plants, respectively. Essential nutrient requirements of plants are in the following order: K > Ca > Mg > Fe > Zn > Mn. Among the nonessential metals, the concentration of Na in the vegetable sample was much greater than those of the other elements. The K/Na ratio in the plant depends on the type of plant and the translocation within the plant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2005

We conducted several different leaching experiments for assessing the potential environmental risk when utilizing recycled concrete for stabilizing bridge pier. The methods include continuous batch leaching test (DIN 38414-S4), availability test (NEN 7341), pH-stat test (CEN/TC 292/WG6) and tank diffusion test (NEN 7345). The concentration ranges vary depending on the testing method. Nearly all the trace elements were low, some elements recording under detection limit. The maximum concentrations for trace elements leached throughout the whole tests are (as mg/L); Cd (0.029), Cu (0.437), Pb (0.14), Ni, Zn (0.95), Hg (0.005). Although the testing methods we used in this study are much more rigorous than other commonly adapted method including TCLP and domestic testing method for solid waste, the trace elemental concentrations are under the criteria for hazardous material set by the TCLP and domestic method. The result seems to suggest that applying the recycled concrete on stream water will be accepatable practice as for as trace elements are concerned. However, the influence of inorganics such as Ca, Mg, Ni and $SO_4^{2-}$ on aquatic ecology should be further examined.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2010

Intensive measurements of airborne respirable $PM_{2.5}$ and inhalable $PM_{2.5}$ were conducted in the downtown area of Iksan city. The $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected twice a day in the Iksan city of Korea from October 17 to November 1, 2004. The purpose of the study was to determine the inorganic water-soluble components and trace elements of $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ in the atmospheric environment and estimate the contribution rate of major chemical components from a mass balance of all measured particulate species. The chemical analysis for PM samples was conducted for water-soluble inorganic ions using ion chromatography and trace elements using PIXE analysis. The mean concentrations of respirable $PM_{2.5}$ and inhalable $PM_{2.5}$ were $51.4{\pm}29.7$ and $79.5{\pm}39.6\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively, and the ratio was 0.62. The ion species of $NO_3$, $SO_4^2$, and $NH_4^+$ were abundant in both $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$. These components predominated in respirable $PM_{2.5}$ fraction, while $Na^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$ mostly existed in coarse particle mode. Elemental components of S, Cl, K, and Si were abundant in both $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{2.5}$. These elements, except for Si, were considered to be emitted from anthropogenic sources, while Si, Al, Fe, Ca existed mainly in coarse particle mode and were considered to be emitted from crustal materials. The averaged mass balance analysis showed that ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, crustal component, and other trace elements were composed of 18.4%, 13.2%, 4.8%, 3.5% for PM2.5 and 17.0%, 11.6%, 13.7%, 4.4% for $PM_{2.5}$, respectively.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2011

This study examined evaluation on stabilization of major and trace elements in tailings by various surface water-preventing materials. Six columns were filled with tailings of the Sinlim mine, then covered with tailings only, compacted soils, clay, soil-bentonite mixture, pozzolan and bentonite mat. After injection of artificial rain water, the leachate was sampled with times (3, 6, 9 and 12 pore volume) and analysed for major (Ca, Na, Mg, K) and trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) by ICP-AES. With exception to pozzolan type, the pH values of leachate from the other types became stabilized from 5.5 to 7.5, and EC (electric conductivity) of leachate from them decreased with times. For the pozzolan type, however, the pH and EC of leachate increased with time due to its alkalinity producing system. Concentrations of most major and trace elements in leachate decreased and stabilized with time. Consequently, soil-bentonite mixed cover shows the best ability of water-preventing and reducing mobility of elements in tailings site.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2006

This study was performed to compare nutrients intake and levels of three elements (iron, copper and zinc) in the plasma of breast cancer patients to those in healthy controls. Patients (n = 97) and their age-matched healthy control groups (n = 97) participated in the study. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire specifically formulated to evaluate the consumption of nutrients was used to estimate dietary intake. Only plasma was taken from the 20 patients and their age-matched healthy control group. Plasma concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, ratio of Cu/Zn were measured in both groups. Results showed that patients consumed significantly lower protein, fat, iron. Plasma level of copper and ratio of Cu/Zn were significantly higher in patients compared to those of controls. In conclusion, change of trace elements in plasma might be useful and significant as biomakers involving the initial process. And these results imply that trace elements status is a factor related to breast cancer risk and suggest that proper intake of those nutrients is required for cancer prevention.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.1043-1054
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• 2003

During the period from April to September 2002, the size distributions of ambient aerosol were measured at the coastal site at Hamduk in Jeju Island. Na$\^$+/, K$\^$+/, Mg$\^$2+/, Ca$\^$2+/and Cl$\^$-/ exhibited mostly a bimodal coarse mode size distribution, while ammonium and sulfate were mainly in the fine size range, with maximum at around 0.54$\mu\textrm{m}$. The average molar concentration ratio of ammonium to sulfate for fine particles was equal to 2.0${\pm}$0.9. Nitrate was evenly found in both the coarse and fine modes. Elements like Al, Fe, Cu, Mg, Na, Ti, Sr and Mn were dominant in coarse particles, with the maximum at around 5.25$\mu\textrm{m}$. S and Pb were mainly in the submicrometer size range. Other elements with a fine and coarse modes were V, Ni, Cu, Ba and Mo. The patterns of the size distributions of trace elements measured at the downtown in Jeju City were very similar to those at the coastal site in Hamduk. However, the amplitude of size fractional concentrations at Jeju City was narrower than that at Hamduk. While the mass median diameters for the chemical species originated from the natural origin such as marine and crust were relatively large, those for ammonium, sulfate, S and Pb were very small.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.425-433
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• 2006

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to measure the concentrations of 27 elements associated with respirable particulate matter (PM10) that were collected from the Third and Fourth Industrial Complex Area of Daejeon City. The distribution patterns of elements were clearly distinguished with their concentrations varying across more than four orders of magnitude. The mean for Al were recorded to be the highest value of 1,527 $ng/m^3$, while that for In showed the lowest value of 0.1 $ng/m^3$. If compared in terms of enrichment factors, it was found that certain elements (e.g., As, Br, Cl, Cr, I, In, Sb, Se, and Zn) are enriched in PM10 samples of the study site. The results of factor analysis indicated six factors with statistical significance, which may exert dominant controls on regulating the elemental concentration levels in the study area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.168-176
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• 2012

A total of 48 dust samples were collected from large shopping mall parking lots in Daegu metropolitan city in March 2011. Samples were sieved through a 100 ${\mu}m$ mesh and the concentration of 14 elements have been determined using by ICP after acid extraction. Results showed that Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and V were affected by natural sources while Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were affected by anthropogenic sources. The measured values were remarkably higher in components from natural sources than in components from anthropogenic sources. Anthropogenic trace element concentrations of ground roof dust were higher than those of ground and underground indoor dust. A large percentage of trace elements came from natural sources rather than anthropogenic sources. The percentage composition of chemicals of ground roof dust were higher than those of ground and underground indoor dust. This study showed that investigated parking lots were rarely contaminated with hazardous heavy metals. The heavy metal pollution of ground roof were higher than those of ground and underground indoors. The correlation analysis among trace elements suggest that components in ground roof were more highly correlated than those in ground and underground indoor. Also anthropogenic trace element levels were well correlated with parking lot age and parking density.