Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2012
As part of the ongoing work on the safety and security of foods grown locally and imported into J... more As part of the ongoing work on the safety and security of foods grown locally and imported into Jamaica, twenty five rice brands available on the Jamaican market and one sample of locally grown brown rice were collected and analysed for 36 elements using a combination of instrumental neutron activation analysis, total reflection X-ray fluorescence, flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Quality control for each of the techniques was provided by analysis of reference materials and intercomparisons of common elements. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis performed on the raw data set identified white, parboiled and brown rice as the major clusters. The element and cluster median concentration in lg/g (for polished, parboiled and brown respectively) for each of the three clusters were Al (8.
Abstract Following the theft of sand from the Coral Springs beach in Jamaica, authorities approac... more Abstract Following the theft of sand from the Coral Springs beach in Jamaica, authorities approached the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences to determine if geochemical analysis could add evidentiary value to collected sediment samples. Forty-three beach sediments comprising of scene and suspect samples were submitted for inorganic elemental investigation by neutron activation analysis. The samples were analyzed for thirty-five elements of which nine (Al, Ca, Ce, Cr, Dy, Fe, Mn, Sc and Sr) were used in statistical evaluation including agglomerative hierarchical clustering, of the dataset. Al, Fe and Sc were the elements with greatest discriminatory power. The methodology illustrated clear similarities in elemental profiles between the donor beach and some suspected receptor beaches while excluding other suspected receptor beaches and potential donor beaches. Interrogation of the dataset provided additional and important information for the authorities and indicated that neutron activation analysis with the use of multivariate statistics can contribute significantly to geoforensic investigations.
Sixty-one kidney stone samples were analysed for Al, As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, S... more Sixty-one kidney stone samples were analysed for Al, As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, Sr, V, and Zn by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to interpret and classify the dataset and were able to identify calcium and non-calcium stones. There was clustering of the elements Ca, K, Mg, Na, Sr, and Zn. The data indicated significant relationships between Ca, Na, Sr, and Zn, although causation could not be established.
Surficial marine sediments were sampled along the south-east coast and in Discover Bay Jamaica. T... more Surficial marine sediments were sampled along the south-east coast and in Discover Bay Jamaica. Total elemental composition was determined for the sediments using three techniques. Total mass fractions of Al, As, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, La, Mn, Sb, Sc, Th, U, V, and Zn were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis; Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zr using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence; and Hg using a direct mercury analyser. Potential anthropogenic hotspots were assessed using indices including enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk (Er) and potential ecological risk index (Ri). The quality of the sediments was also assessed using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and organic carbon content (OC) were determined to assess variation across sample sites. Results indicated moderate to severe ecological risk at sites in Port Royal and Discovery Bay with ecological risk values as high as 381.9.
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences
N. Grant (2017) The determination of the inhalable fraction of 40 K activity in marijuana (Cannab... more N. Grant (2017) The determination of the inhalable fraction of 40 K activity in marijuana (Cannabissativa L.) buds by instrumental neutron activation analysis and the effective dose to the body,
In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air polluti... more In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air pollution and GHG emissions associated with the energy generation are assessed; and the air pollution and global warming effects of the Jamaican electricity generation fuel mix are determined. Based on the energy production and consumption patterns, and global warming potentials, the authors conclude that: an increase in energy consumption and production yields an increase in GHGs and other major pollutants; choice of the fuel mix determines the success of GHG emissions reductions; and there is no single fuel that is not associated with GHG or other air pollution or environmental degradation implications.
In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air polluti... more In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air pollution and GHG emissions associated with the energy generation are assessed; and the air pollution and global warming effects of the Jamaican electricity generation fuel mix are determined. Based on the energy production and consumption patterns, and global warming potentials, the authors conclude that: an increase in energy consumption and production yields an increase in GHGs and other major pollutants; choice of the fuel mix determines the success of GHG emissions reductions; and there is no single fuel that is not associated with GHG or other air pollution or environmental degradation implications.
Twenty-five samples of Pterois volitans caught in Jamaican waters were analyzed for 25 essential,... more Twenty-five samples of Pterois volitans caught in Jamaican waters were analyzed for 25 essential, non-essential and toxic elements using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GF-AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The mean values for calcium (355 mg/kg), copper (107 lg/kg), iron (0.81 mg/kg), potassium (3481 mg/kg), magnesium (322 mg/kg), manganese (0.04 mg/kg), selenium (0.47 mg/kg), sodium (700 mg/kg) and zinc (4.46 mg/kg) were used to estimate dietary intake. The percentage contribution to provisional tolerable weekly intake for a 70 kg male and a 65 kg female were also estimated for the toxic elements arsenic (1.28% M, 1.38% F), cadmium (0.26% M. 0.28% F), mercury (3.85% M, 4.15% F) and lead (0.17% M, 0.18% F). To further assess the risk of mercury toxicity and the role of mitigation provided by selenium, selenium-mercury molar ratios were calculated for all samples. All samples were shown to have a molar excess of selenium. In addition the suggested selenium health benefit value was calculated, and was positive for all samples. It was concluded that P. volitans appears to contribute modestly to mineral and trace element nutrition, while not being a significant contributor to dietary exposure of toxic elements.
Twenty-five rice brands, available on the Jamaican market, and a local field trial sample were co... more Twenty-five rice brands, available on the Jamaican market, and a local field trial sample were collected and analyzed for 36 essential, non-essential and toxic elements using four techniques: flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (F-AAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The mean values for both white and brown rice respectively for calcium (127 mg/kg; 104 mg/kg), chromium (0.08 mg/kg; 0.157 mg/kg), copper (1.65 mg/kg; 2.96 mg/kg), iron (22.3 mg/kg; 20.1 mg/kg), magnesium (371 mg/kg; 1205 mg/kg), manganese (10.5 mg/kg; 26.5 mg/kg), molybdenum (0.790 mg/kg; 0.770 mg/kg), phosphorus (1203 mg/kg; 3361 mg/kg), potassium (913 mg/kg; 2157 mg/kg), selenium (0.108 mg/kg; 0.131 mg/kg), sodium (6.00 mg/kg; 15.1 mg/kg), sulfur (1131 mg/kg; 1291 mg/kg) and zinc (15.6 mg/kg; 20.2 mg/kg) were used to calculate intake values. The percentage contribution to Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes were also estimated for the toxic elements aluminum (6.6–17.9%), arsenic (7.8–10.2%), cadmium (5.1–9.0%) and mercury (3.2–12.0%) with ranges dependent on white or brown rice consumption and gender. It was concluded that, for most essential elements, rice does not significantly contribute to mineral nutrition. The local field trial sample yielded encouraging results in terms of uptake of toxic elements.► Rice from supermarkets and a local field trial were analyzed for 36 elements. ► Dietary intake estimates were calculated for essential and toxic elements. ► Rice is a staple in Jamaica, but contributes little to elemental nutrition. ► Data from field trial could form basis for site selection for Jamaican rice farming.
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2012
As part of the ongoing work on the safety and security of foods grown locally and imported into J... more As part of the ongoing work on the safety and security of foods grown locally and imported into Jamaica, twenty five rice brands available on the Jamaican market and one sample of locally grown brown rice were collected and analysed for 36 elements using a combination of instrumental neutron activation analysis, total reflection X-ray fluorescence, flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Quality control for each of the techniques was provided by analysis of reference materials and intercomparisons of common elements. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis performed on the raw data set identified white, parboiled and brown rice as the major clusters. The element and cluster median concentration in lg/g (for polished, parboiled and brown respectively) for each of the three clusters were Al (8.
Abstract Following the theft of sand from the Coral Springs beach in Jamaica, authorities approac... more Abstract Following the theft of sand from the Coral Springs beach in Jamaica, authorities approached the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences to determine if geochemical analysis could add evidentiary value to collected sediment samples. Forty-three beach sediments comprising of scene and suspect samples were submitted for inorganic elemental investigation by neutron activation analysis. The samples were analyzed for thirty-five elements of which nine (Al, Ca, Ce, Cr, Dy, Fe, Mn, Sc and Sr) were used in statistical evaluation including agglomerative hierarchical clustering, of the dataset. Al, Fe and Sc were the elements with greatest discriminatory power. The methodology illustrated clear similarities in elemental profiles between the donor beach and some suspected receptor beaches while excluding other suspected receptor beaches and potential donor beaches. Interrogation of the dataset provided additional and important information for the authorities and indicated that neutron activation analysis with the use of multivariate statistics can contribute significantly to geoforensic investigations.
Sixty-one kidney stone samples were analysed for Al, As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, S... more Sixty-one kidney stone samples were analysed for Al, As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, Sr, V, and Zn by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to interpret and classify the dataset and were able to identify calcium and non-calcium stones. There was clustering of the elements Ca, K, Mg, Na, Sr, and Zn. The data indicated significant relationships between Ca, Na, Sr, and Zn, although causation could not be established.
Surficial marine sediments were sampled along the south-east coast and in Discover Bay Jamaica. T... more Surficial marine sediments were sampled along the south-east coast and in Discover Bay Jamaica. Total elemental composition was determined for the sediments using three techniques. Total mass fractions of Al, As, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, La, Mn, Sb, Sc, Th, U, V, and Zn were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis; Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zr using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence; and Hg using a direct mercury analyser. Potential anthropogenic hotspots were assessed using indices including enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk (Er) and potential ecological risk index (Ri). The quality of the sediments was also assessed using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and organic carbon content (OC) were determined to assess variation across sample sites. Results indicated moderate to severe ecological risk at sites in Port Royal and Discovery Bay with ecological risk values as high as 381.9.
Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences
N. Grant (2017) The determination of the inhalable fraction of 40 K activity in marijuana (Cannab... more N. Grant (2017) The determination of the inhalable fraction of 40 K activity in marijuana (Cannabissativa L.) buds by instrumental neutron activation analysis and the effective dose to the body,
In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air polluti... more In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air pollution and GHG emissions associated with the energy generation are assessed; and the air pollution and global warming effects of the Jamaican electricity generation fuel mix are determined. Based on the energy production and consumption patterns, and global warming potentials, the authors conclude that: an increase in energy consumption and production yields an increase in GHGs and other major pollutants; choice of the fuel mix determines the success of GHG emissions reductions; and there is no single fuel that is not associated with GHG or other air pollution or environmental degradation implications.
In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air polluti... more In this study, different fuel combinations that can be adopted to reduce the level of air pollution and GHG emissions associated with the energy generation are assessed; and the air pollution and global warming effects of the Jamaican electricity generation fuel mix are determined. Based on the energy production and consumption patterns, and global warming potentials, the authors conclude that: an increase in energy consumption and production yields an increase in GHGs and other major pollutants; choice of the fuel mix determines the success of GHG emissions reductions; and there is no single fuel that is not associated with GHG or other air pollution or environmental degradation implications.
Twenty-five samples of Pterois volitans caught in Jamaican waters were analyzed for 25 essential,... more Twenty-five samples of Pterois volitans caught in Jamaican waters were analyzed for 25 essential, non-essential and toxic elements using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (GF-AAS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The mean values for calcium (355 mg/kg), copper (107 lg/kg), iron (0.81 mg/kg), potassium (3481 mg/kg), magnesium (322 mg/kg), manganese (0.04 mg/kg), selenium (0.47 mg/kg), sodium (700 mg/kg) and zinc (4.46 mg/kg) were used to estimate dietary intake. The percentage contribution to provisional tolerable weekly intake for a 70 kg male and a 65 kg female were also estimated for the toxic elements arsenic (1.28% M, 1.38% F), cadmium (0.26% M. 0.28% F), mercury (3.85% M, 4.15% F) and lead (0.17% M, 0.18% F). To further assess the risk of mercury toxicity and the role of mitigation provided by selenium, selenium-mercury molar ratios were calculated for all samples. All samples were shown to have a molar excess of selenium. In addition the suggested selenium health benefit value was calculated, and was positive for all samples. It was concluded that P. volitans appears to contribute modestly to mineral and trace element nutrition, while not being a significant contributor to dietary exposure of toxic elements.
Twenty-five rice brands, available on the Jamaican market, and a local field trial sample were co... more Twenty-five rice brands, available on the Jamaican market, and a local field trial sample were collected and analyzed for 36 essential, non-essential and toxic elements using four techniques: flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (F-AAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF). The mean values for both white and brown rice respectively for calcium (127 mg/kg; 104 mg/kg), chromium (0.08 mg/kg; 0.157 mg/kg), copper (1.65 mg/kg; 2.96 mg/kg), iron (22.3 mg/kg; 20.1 mg/kg), magnesium (371 mg/kg; 1205 mg/kg), manganese (10.5 mg/kg; 26.5 mg/kg), molybdenum (0.790 mg/kg; 0.770 mg/kg), phosphorus (1203 mg/kg; 3361 mg/kg), potassium (913 mg/kg; 2157 mg/kg), selenium (0.108 mg/kg; 0.131 mg/kg), sodium (6.00 mg/kg; 15.1 mg/kg), sulfur (1131 mg/kg; 1291 mg/kg) and zinc (15.6 mg/kg; 20.2 mg/kg) were used to calculate intake values. The percentage contribution to Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes were also estimated for the toxic elements aluminum (6.6–17.9%), arsenic (7.8–10.2%), cadmium (5.1–9.0%) and mercury (3.2–12.0%) with ranges dependent on white or brown rice consumption and gender. It was concluded that, for most essential elements, rice does not significantly contribute to mineral nutrition. The local field trial sample yielded encouraging results in terms of uptake of toxic elements.► Rice from supermarkets and a local field trial were analyzed for 36 elements. ► Dietary intake estimates were calculated for essential and toxic elements. ► Rice is a staple in Jamaica, but contributes little to elemental nutrition. ► Data from field trial could form basis for site selection for Jamaican rice farming.
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