Analysis of food by nuclear and related analytical techniques (Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of INAA for multi-element analysis of some 23 foodstuffs most commonly consumed by the South African population. The minimum detectable concentration of the essential and/or toxic elements, as determinable by the routine Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) protocol at Necsa, has been evaluated in terms of the recommended daily intake and/or tolerable intake. The information regarding the commonly consumed food types, the quantity of intake and the dietary recommendations of essential and toxic elements were obtained from world literature as no South African regulations or guidelines were available up to this point in time<49. The foodstuffs used in this study were purchased around Pretoria and may probably be regarded to provide a suitable first order database to compare element concentrations of foodstuffs expected to be contaminated by natural geological phenomena, agricultural practices (e.g. use of fertilizers, irrigation from contaminated water sources) and by mining and mineral processing activities in South Africa.