The quantitative analysis of Sb, Ag, Zn, Co, and Fe in human dental calculus by neutron activation analysis and high-resolution gamma spectrometry.

The sample to be analysed, and a standard of known composition, were irradiated simultaneously in the poolside facility of a nuclear reactor for 130 hours in a thermal neutron flux of approximately 2 × 10₁₃ n.cm^-2. sec^-1, and the induced radioactivity compared after a cooling period of four weeks. The investigation was done with a high resolution Ge(Li) detector coupled to a fully transistorized 4000 channel analyser. The concentration of five elements, namely Sb, Ag, Zn, Co and Fe, was determined in human dental calculus by instrumental activation analysis and found to be 0,68 ppm, 0,18 ppm, 174 ppm, 0,08 ppm and 54 ppm respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]