title: Development of a (170)Tm source for mercury monitoring studies in humans using XRF.
abstract: The goals of the present study were to develop a (170)Tm radioisotope and generate a K XRF spectrum of mercury. Thulium foil and thulium oxide powder were both tested for impurities and the latter was found to be a better prospect for further studies. The (170)Tm radioisotope was developed from thulium oxide powder following the method of disolution and absorption. A suitable source holder and collimator were also designed based on Monte Carlo simulations. Using the radioisotope thus developed, a mercury XRF spectrum was successfully generated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors.forename: K Phanisree
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Timmaraju
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors.forename: Bibi Najah
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Fajurally
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors.forename: Andrea F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics & Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chettle
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D013932:Thulium
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D013932:Thulium; D008628:Mercury
keywords: (170)Tm; In vivo monitoring; X-ray fluorescence; mercury