Human hair analysis by proton induced x ray emission pattern recognition of trace element composition
Pillay, A.E.; Peisach, M.
Journal of Radioanalytical Chemistry 63(1): 85-96
1981
Accession: 005592322
The feasibility is explored of classifying human hair specimens according to their trace metal composition as determined by PIXE [proton induced X-ray emission]. Protons of 3.5 MeV were used to analyze 150 samples by energy-dispersive spectrometry using a Si(Li) detector. The methods of the Minimal Spanning Tree and Non-Linear Mapping were used to establish correlation among the specimens. As a result of distinct groupings obtained by these methods it was inferred that these techniques could usefully be applied to environmental pollution studies.