Neutron activation analysis : food and human health

Selenium is an essential trace element both for humans as well as animals. It is known to prevent heart and liver diseases but when present in excess (selenosis) can be quite toxic giving rise to symptoms such as giddiness, lassitude, blindness, abdominal pain, colic, diarrhea besides increased heart and respiration rates. In the Nawanshahr-Hoshiarpur districts of Punjab State symptoms of selenosis have been reported both in humans and cattle due to consumption of food and water containing high level of selenium. Soil along with crop produce namely wheat (in the form of kernels), mustard seeds, wheat husk, maize and rice were collected and their selenium content was estimated using neutron activation analysis to understand the extent of the problem of selenosis in the above mentioned area of Punjab State in addition to looking for remediation of the same through phyto-accumulation approach. Stone diseases namely Kidney and Gall are one of the commonest diseases plaguing mankind. Kidney Stones or Renal Calculi are generally formed when there is a decrease in urine volume and/or an excess of stone-forming substances in the urine. Gall stones unlike Kidney stones develop because cholesterol and pigments in bile sometimes form hard particles. The stone precipitation process is still not properly understood. Neutron Activation Analysis was carried out to understand the role of trace elements in the formation of Kidney and Gall Stones. The presentation will highlight the importance of neutron activation analysis in carrying out studies related to food and human health. (author)