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Elements like potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, selenium and lead were analyzed in human blood samples collected from different cancer patients as well as some healthy persons applying Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique at the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar. The results obtained were compared and discussed with the reported literature values. Some blood elements were found varying significantly in cancer patients compared to those of their healthy counterparts, which could suggest that fluctuations in trace element profiles in whole blood possibly can be used as a diagnostic tool as well as a prognostic index in cancer.

The method to observe the localization of the trace elements in cultured human cell, by the micro Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) camera, was developed.

The analyzed samples received the eosin staining, which colored the nucleus of cell violet. The scanned areas of the sample with particle irradiation were colored brown by the heat during irradiation. The brown scanned areas were examined by an optical microscope at 400 X magnification and photographed. Then the photo was digitized and loaded into the microcomputer. By microcomputer, the photo of the scanned area was superimposed onto the image of the micro PIXE camera, by matching the scanned area to the image of micro PIXE camera.

This superimposed image enabled us to determine whether the elements exists in cytosol, or in nucleus.

The study of trace elements level in coal arouses much interest in recent days to assess and evaluate the environmental impact related to its benefit and usage in applying it to the problem of mining site. Further, it is more important during the coal combustion in thermal power stations particularly in relation to the emission of air toxic, disposal and utilization of fly ash. The paper describes the level of nineteen environmentally significant trace elements found in recently discovered Permian Gondwana coals in Barapukuria and Khalaspir of Northwestern Bangladesh using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) spectroscopy. Both the mineral species and trace elements are expected to be due to sedimentary and aerobic environmental condition where the Permian coals have been generated depending on their degree of evolution.

Since 1991 ANSTO's ion beam analysis (IBA) laboratory has been sampling fine atmospheric particles every Wednesday and Sunday at urban and rural sites in New South Wales. Multi-elemental accelerator-based IBA techniques were used to characterise major components and significant trace elements with minimum detectable limits close to 1 ng/m³. Observed mass concentrations will be compared with air quality US EPA standards and proposed Australian fine particle NEPM guidelines. Trace elements strongly associated with source fingerprints responsible for high air pollution will also be discussed in this paper.

Stones removed from different patients of different ages were collected at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, North-eastern India. The stones were analyzed by PIXE with 3MeV protons. Ca was found to be the major constituent element. Light elements present in minor concentration were S, Cl and K. Again, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr were observed in low concentration and most of them were detected in trace levels.

Two types of bleached mutant strains were isolated from a culture of wild-type Euglena gracilisZ strain. These mutant strains formed yellow and white colored colonies, named Y₁ZSmL and W₁ZSmL, respectively. The losses of chlorophyll a in both mutant strains were found from the evaluation of chlorophyll a concentrations. To elucidate physiological effects due to the chlorophyll a loss, cell growth and the amounts of trace elements (Al, P, S, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn) in each strain were studied. The obtained data for mutant strains were compared with those for wild-type Z strain. Cell growth of each strain differed and the abundances of cells were consequently high, decreasing in the order of Z, Y₁ZSmL, and W₁ZSmL. The amounts of all elements except S in mutant strains were significantly lower than those in the Z strain. Differences between Y₁ZSmL and W₁ZSmL were found only in the amount of Cu. Copper, therefore, would be one of the factors causing differences in the color of the colonies and the growth of cells between both mutant strains.

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique developed at Variable Energy Cyclotron, Panjab University Chandigarh has been used for the detection of trace elements in the aerosol samples collected from relatively clean and industrially polluted city in northern India. Aerosol samples were collected from Jammu City of Jammu and Kashmir State, which is supposed to have a clean environment and from Mandi-Gobindgarh, one of the most polluted steel city of Punjab. The results from the analysis of these samples show some basic differences in the trace element profile of the two cities. The results further suggest a long term aerosol sample analysis to segregate anthropogenic and natural sources of air pollution. The mean concentration levels of different trace elements in PM₁₀ (Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) from these two cities of northern India are compared with some of the prominent cities of India.

The concentration of some trace elements especially potassium calcium, manganese, copper and zinc in the arterial wall tissue for the aneurism patients was studied by PIXE (Proton Induced X-Ray Emission) analysis. Comparing the results with normal aortic wall tissues has been done. All the patients are in the age range of 40-60 years. The samples are derived from 15 patients by surgical operation. The results show the absence of manganese, and decreasing of potassium, Copper and Zinc in the aneurismal tissues. Change in copper concentration in the arterial wall is important in the breakdown of the elastic layer in the aneurism. Elevation of the Calcium and Iron in the aneurism tissues are obtained in the comparison with the control groups. Deficiency or elevation of some elements in the aneurism aorta can be encountered as an indicator in the biopsy analysis.

Medicinal herbs have been used from antiquity by humanity. This paper discusses the elemental composition and concentration of ten Indian medicinal plants investigated by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique. The accuracy and precision of the technique were assured by analyzing three Certified Standard Reference Materials-cabbage (GBW 08504, China), wheat flour (NIST-8436) and bovine liver (NIST-1577b). The elements K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn were found to be present in all the samples in varying concentrations. No toxic heavy metals such as As, Pb and Hg were detected in the studied plants. The range of the elemental concentrations in dry weight has been found to vary from 4.69 × 10⁴mg/kg to 1.81 mg/kg in the plants. The results also show that these plants contain elements of vital importance in man's metabolism and that are needed for growth and developments, prevention and healing of diseases.

Serum trace elements were analyzed by PIXE method in a patient with acute aortic dissection during the supportive process by a Nutrition support team (NST). The patient was a 53-year old male who suffered from acute aortic dissection on March 1, 2007. He received emergent Bentall operation and bow pars total displacement. Since he suffered from diarrhea as a result of hypoalbuminemia and bowel dysfunction, enteral nutrition was not sufficient to maintain adequate intake. Therefore, we also used parenteral nutrition until the 97th disease day. Afterwards, the patient managed only with enteral nutrition. We measured serum trace elements during these periods. Serum trace elements such as Fe, Zn and Se were preserved within normal ranges. On the other hand, Cu gradually decreased until the 54th disease day (44 μg/l) and stayed in the lower levels around the detection limit until the 109th disease day. Thereafter, Cu slightly increased and reached 117 μg/l on the 131st disease day (reference range of serum Cu in adult males: 700~1,300 μg/l). It was suggested that the serum levels of these trace elements might reflect the nutritional stages of the patient and could be useful as clinical markers for nutritional therapies.

This paper reviews the work carried out in a wide variety of scientific programmes with particular reference to broad beam PIXE and elemental mapping. The paper is illustrated with results from studies in Biomonitoring, Environmental Health and Human Diseases. In mammals and especially in humans, pollutants can be inhaled, ingested or contact mucosa and skin and be internalized, eventually entering the circulation and accumulating in tissues. Persistent exposure to environmental contaminants is known to cause pathologies that become chronic and debilitating. Human diseases often influence the amount of essential trace element in tissues and organs. Thus, organic fluids, organs and tissues, when accessible, may give significant data on the individual physiological status. Relating clinical, functional and morphological changes with variations in the elemental contents and other biochemical indicators, can significantly contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of disease and toxicity risks of certain pollutants.

The level and change in concentration of trace elements in the fluids of a body may be the result and an evidence of alterations in life functions. In the search for trace element alterations in the human body it is necessary to know referenced values for as many elements as possible. In this work, Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) was used to study elemental concentrations in human blood serum of 30 healthy donors. The serum samples were obtained by centrifugation and were micro-pipetted on 10µm thick Nuclepore film for PIXE analysis. The elemental concentrations were calculated relative to an internal yttrium standard added during sample preparation. A total of 9 elements were measured (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn and Br) in good agreement with literature data. The accuracy of the method was verified analysing reference serum samples from the NIPH-Québec (ICP04S-06 and ICP02S-05). A preliminary statistical analysis indicated a log-normal distribution only for Fe and Cu, while concentration data for the other elements followed the normal distributions. This result indicates the need for stronger statistical data set since the distribution of the elemental concentrations may be a criterion to access their role in biological functions.

Recently, Nutrition Support Teams (NSTs) has been spreading throughout Japan. Nutritional assessment is important as an initial step among NST activities, since the patients can be identified based on this assessment whether they needs supports by NST or not. Serum trace element is one of the most useful and convenient nutritional indices. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between serum trace element values and clinical backgrounds in NST patients by data mining. The subjects of this study consisted of 29 NST patients who were admitted to our hospital between January 2005 and October 2006. Serum trace elements in patients were analyzed by PIXE method. The data were analyzed by a data mining software, i.e. "ICONS Miner" (Koden Industry Co., Ltd.). The significant "if-then rules" were extracted from the decision trees. The target variable of the decision trees is whether nutritional conditions of the patients are improved or not (Yes/No). The explanatory variables of the decision trees are the values in serum trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn) and TTR (transthyretin). The analyses demonstrated that the first node of the decision tree was Zn. Therefore, serum Zn value might be the most significant factor among these trace elements in estimating the improvement of nutritional conditions of the patients. In the decision, the second branch was the Fe value, and the Cu the third. The following significant "If-then rules" were extracted from the decision trees.

If-then rule 1: If serum Zn value >758.6 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 9/9)

If-then rule 2: If serum Zn value ≤758.6 µg/l and Fe ≤653.2 µg/l and Cu ≤682.5 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 5/5)

If-then rule 3: If serum Zn value ≤758.6 µg/l and Fe ≤653.2 µg/l and Cu >682.5 µg/l and Se >119.8 µg/l, then improvement of nutritional condition = Y. (1.00 = 3/3)

In conclusion, data mining analysis of serum trace elements was found to be an effective method in assessing the nutritional conditions in NST patients.

Elemental concentrations in some herbal medical products, produced by different ayurvedic pharmacies in India, were determined using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (EDXRF). All the eight products, which were studied, contained mercury, and four out of the eight products contained arsenic in varied amounts. Daily mercury and arsenic intakes by the patients taking these products, determined from the doses prescribed by the manufacturers, exceeded the recommendations by WHO. The present work does not argue on the toxicity of heavy metals in drugs but gives information about the presence of heavy metals at levels more than the required recommendations by various health regulatory bodies. This level of As and Hg calls for caution as far as their safe intake is concerned.

The analysis of some of the Indian silver coins during British rule were analysed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Technique. Eight elements namely Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ag and Pb were estimated in this study which also seems to indicate the fragmentation as well as the impoverishment of the power for the regimes that had produced the studied coins. While Cu and Ag were present as major elements, other elements were found to be present in minor concentration.

For muti-elemental analysis, various standards are used to quantify the elements consists of environmental and biological samples. In this paper two different configuration standards, pressed powders and thin section standards, were assessed for their purpose as standards by conventional and micro-PIXE analysis. Homogeneity of manganese, iron, zinc (Zn), copper and yttrium added to pressed powder standard materials were validated and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the X-ray intensity of the standards was <10% within the range, 62.5–250 µg/g. We established linear relationships between the metal concentration and the specific X-ray intensity of standards containing up to 250 µg/g of these metals. A homogenous distribution of Zn added to thin section standard materials was also confirmed by 10-µm-step scanning of the standard within the range, 50–250 µg/g (RSD ~ 10%). The calibration line between the X-ray intensity obtained from a 10-µm² area and the metal concentration was acceptable.

The present study was carried out with the aim to determine if, orthodontic patients accumulate measurable concentration of Ni in blood or not, since the recent evidences shows the allergenic actions of Ni in various forms and orthodontic appliances have been reported to produce Ni allergy. In our experiment, the blood samples were taken before the insertion of appliance and at an interval of 6 months over a total time period of 18 months (four sets) from the Oral Health Department of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. In all the four sets of blood samples the common trace elements were detected viz. S, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Br. Our result shows the complete absence of Ni in the blood.

Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that, if found and treated in its early stages can be cured before it gets invasive and develops metastasis. The incidence of this disease has steadily increased in white populations throughout the world in the last decades. Although the basis for this rise is incompletely understood, it is known that solar exposure and genetic factors are important precursors of melanoma. Nowadays, some studies are correlating some trace elements in blood and tissues with the disease. In this work, trace element concentrations in blood serum of patients with melanoma where measured by PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) to verify if there is a link between the concentrations of elements in the blood serum and melanoma. If the hypothesis is proven, elements in the blood serum could also be used as markers for melanoma. The samples were collected in the São Paulo Hospital and analyzed by PIXE after an internal standard addition. Concentrations of Chlorine (Cl), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn) and Bromine (Br) were measured in serum of 30 patients with melanoma and 116 control individuals. The elemental concentrations were calculated relative to an internal Gallium standard. The accuracy of the method was verified analyzing an IAEA A-13 Blood (International Atomic Energy Agency) and a QMEQAS08S-06 serum (National Institute of Public Health). The results of this work showed no significant difference between melanoma and control group (independent t-test and U-test, p = 0.05).

In this paper, we measured more than 4200 beard samples collected from a single person every day over a 12-year period and analyzed them based on a standard-free method. It was found that the sulfur concentration remained almost constant from a long-term perspective but showed small periodic elevations. Silicone, phosphorus and rubidium showed significant periodic changes with a cycle of several years. While manganese, strontium and molybdenum seemed to show long-term changes, there were no significant differences due to their large standard deviations. Concerning seasonal changes, silicone and phosphorus showed decreasing trends in summer, albeit without significant differences. The bromine concentration showed clear seasonal variations, rising in winter and falling in summer, suggesting the possible influence of seasonal changes in the elemental components in the airborne particles that pass over to Japan from the Asian Continent. These findings confirmed that beard analyses are useful not only for evaluating changes in trace element concentrations in the human body but also for clarifying the main pathways of the intake of these elements.

Three tree core samples of Norway spruce (Picea Abies) have been analysed by PIXE. The concentration profiles for 17 elements heavier than sodium have been determined by means of one PIXE measurement every 2 mm along the samples. The samples were collected at Fäxboda, an experimental area north of Uppsala where artificially acidified and limed environmental experiments are made. One sample from each of an acidified, a limed and a reference area has been collected. The main interest is focused on potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc.

All three samples have about the same concentration profile in the heartwood. Large differences are observed in the sapwood. In the sample from the limed area the calcium content is much higher and the iron and chromium. contents are lower than in the sample from the reference area. In the sample from the acidified area the calcium and potassium contents are lower and the manganese, iron and chromium contents are much higher than in the sample from the reference area.

The observed concentration profiles of trace elements in trees indicate that changes in the environment due to acidification can be quantified at an early stage by means of PIXE.