Mapping of ecologically unfavorable territories based on human hair composition.

As was shown (1), analysis of human hair on the population level and mapping of large territories using hair elemental composition are promising approaches for estimation of both the environmental situation and the population health status. In (1,2) the map of Uzbekistan (sampling in 1981) was discussed. Ten years later (1991), samples from the territory in the vicinity of the drying out Aral Sea were taken again. Samples were analyzed for 24 elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Comparison of the data and maps drawn for 1981 and 1991 and their comparison with changes of the health status have shown that repeated mapping of territories using data on human hair elemental composition could be used in medical geography, especially for prediction of health status changes in ecologically unfavorable areas.

Use of nuclear analytical techniques in bioenvironmental studies.

Bioenvironmental studies remain to be one of the most important fields of applied analytical chemistry. At present time, more than 50% of nuclear analytical studies deal with bioenvironmental investigations. The first period of utilizing nuclear analytical methods in bioenvironmental sciences could be characterized as "purely analytical," in which these methods were used for determination of sample composition in competition with other non-nuclear methods. Later, the outstanding advantages of the former methods were used for more detailed description of systems to be studied, including element speciation, spatial distribution, and so forth. The present period not only develops approaches of previous periods but also considers the bioenvironmental processes more widely and is focused on their dynamics. In this field, a large extent of utilizing various nuclear analytical techniques can be expected as well.

Investigation of element speciation in atmosphere.

Elemental composition of rain water was determined with the use of instrumental neutron activation analysis. Solid water-insoluble fractions were separated by filtration through membrane filters. Filtrates were dried, and dry residues as well as solid-phase on filters were analyzed. Concentrations of 20 elements in the samples were determined. Enrichment factors and ratios between element concentrations in liquid and solid fractions were calculated. Data obtained allowed us to suppose that Na, Cl, K, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Se, Br, I, Cs, La, Sm, and Au prevalently exist in the air in the form of relatively coarse aerosol particles; Zn, As, Sb, and Hg prevalently occur in the vapor-gas phase; and Co and W, in the form of finely dispersed aerosol.

Mapping using human blood composition data.

The mapping of elemental composition using INAA on the base of whole blood and hair of inhabitants (2500 samples) was made in Uzbekistan (CIS). The average concentrations of 15 elements (24 for hair) were determined. The results obtained were compared to regional medical statistics. The correlations for various diseases were obtained. The maps of human blood composition in comparison to those for human hair composition seem to be less significant in terms of regional contamination (probably because of stronger homeostatic control of blood). On the other hand, specific changes of blood composition were detected for some occupational groups. Relationships of blood and hair elemental composition and their relative significance are discussed.

[Effects of discharges of the aluminium works on the elemental contents of human biosubstrates]. / O vliianii vybrosov aliuminievogo kombinata na élementnyi sostav biosubstratov cheloveka.

Data of the chemical elements content in blood, placenta, breast milk, hairs of Sariasy region in Surhandarya area inhabitants are given. This region is situated under aluminium work discharge. High content of fluorine and very low levels of selenium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper in hairs were noted.

Mapping technique based on elemental hair composition data.

The content of 24 elements has been determined in 2000 hair samples of the inhabitants of Uzbekistan. INAA was used for analysis. Reference material IAEA HH-1 and laboratory standards were used. Measurements were done using a Ge(Li) detector and a multi-channel analyzer. No correlation was found between the element content and hair color and ethnic group, whereas the content of some elements depended on sex, hemoglobin content, blood group, and occupation. Arithmetical and geometrical means and medians were calculated. Cumulative histograms show mainly lognormal distributions. Maps of selected regions, based on the elemental hair composition data, were made. The element content was shown to depend on the location of large cities and biogeochemical anomalies. The relationship between the death rate and the element content in hair in some countries has been shown.

Use of nuclear physics methods in life sciences in the USSR.

Analytical nuclear physics methods, as well as radioanalytical, X-ray, and radiometric techniques are widely used in the Soviet Union in life sciences studies. Main approaches to the study of natural materials by activation analysis, including bulk analyses, localized analyses, speciation, and in vivo experiments are described. Examples of applications in agriculture to increase protein content of wheat, to improve crop yield, and to enhance resistivity of cotton plants to diseases are given. Activation analysis is used in medicine for prognosis and study of processes of pathogenesis. Detailed information on trace elements is valuable in environmental studies, and general regularities in biogeochemistry may be clarified with activation analysis.