Elemental analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence: Guidelines for the study of dry human bone

IF 1.3 3区地球科学 Q3 PALEONTOLOGY

International Journal of Paleopathology Pub Date : 2024-01-04 DOI:10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.12.004

Ricardo A.M.P. Gomes , Ana Luisa Santos , Lidia Catarino

{"title":"Elemental analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence: Guidelines for the study of dry human bone","authors":"Ricardo A.M.P. Gomes , Ana Luisa Santos , Lidia Catarino","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpp.2023.12.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive technique that measures the elemental concentration of different materials, including human bone. Recently, it began to be applied to paleopathological studies due to the development of portable devices and their relative ease of use. However, the lack of uniform procedures hampers comparability and reproducibility. This paper aims to provide guidelines for an efficient and standardized evaluation of bone elemental composition with a portable XRF (pXRF) device.</p></div><div><h3>Materials</h3><p>This technical note is based on the application of the Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t 900 GOLDD+.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>This work includes suggestions for the choice and preparation of human bone samples, both from archaeological context and documented collections, and methodological procedures in pXRF setup, such as choice of calibration, assessment of accuracy, and analysis run time. Additionally, recommendations for data validation and statistical analysis are also included.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This technique has great potential in paleopathology since bone chemical variations may be associated with different pathological conditions, environmental contamination (e.g., lead), and/or administered treatments, such as mercury. Following an expected increase in the number of studies, it is essential to establish good practices that allow results from different researchers to be comparable.</p></div><div><h3>Significance</h3><p>X-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive technique that measures small concentrations (ppm) of elements from magnesium (12Mg) through bismuth (83Bi).</p></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><p>pXRF does not detect elements lighter than Mg, and its lower energy excitation penetrates less than other techniques.</p></div><div><h3>Suggestions for further research</h3><p>Other research groups should test these guidelines and comment on their usefulness and replicability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48817,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Paleopathology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981723000797/pdfft?md5=0734257cc4e04834e72eaa1c8e4f7658&pid=1-s2.0-S1879981723000797-main.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Paleopathology","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1879981723000797","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PALEONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a non-destructive technique that measures the elemental concentration of different materials, including human bone. Recently, it began to be applied to paleopathological studies due to the development of portable devices and their relative ease of use. However, the lack of uniform procedures hampers comparability and reproducibility. This paper aims to provide guidelines for an efficient and standardized evaluation of bone elemental composition with a portable XRF (pXRF) device.

Materials

This technical note is based on the application of the Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t 900 GOLDD+.

Methods

This work includes suggestions for the choice and preparation of human bone samples, both from archaeological context and documented collections, and methodological procedures in pXRF setup, such as choice of calibration, assessment of accuracy, and analysis run time. Additionally, recommendations for data validation and statistical analysis are also included.

Conclusions

This technique has great potential in paleopathology since bone chemical variations may be associated with different pathological conditions, environmental contamination (e.g., lead), and/or administered treatments, such as mercury. Following an expected increase in the number of studies, it is essential to establish good practices that allow results from different researchers to be comparable.

Significance

X-ray fluorescence is a non-destructive technique that measures small concentrations (ppm) of elements from magnesium (12Mg) through bismuth (83Bi).

Limitations

pXRF does not detect elements lighter than Mg, and its lower energy excitation penetrates less than other techniques.

Suggestions for further research

Other research groups should test these guidelines and comment on their usefulness and replicability.

查看原文本刊更多论文

使用便携式 X 射线荧光进行元素分析：干人骨研究指南。

目的：X 射线荧光（XRF）是一种非破坏性技术，可测量不同材料（包括人体骨骼）的元素浓度。最近，由于便携式设备的发展及其相对易用性，该技术开始应用于古病理学研究。然而，由于缺乏统一的程序，影响了可比性和可重复性。本文旨在为使用便携式 XRF（pXRF）设备高效、标准化地评估骨元素组成提供指导：本技术说明基于 Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t 900 GOLDD+ 的应用：方法：这项工作包括从考古背景和文献收集中选择和制备人类骨骼样本的建议，以及 pXRF 设置的方法步骤，如校准选择、准确性评估和分析运行时间。此外，还包括有关数据验证和统计分析的建议：这项技术在古病理学方面具有巨大潜力，因为骨骼化学变化可能与不同的病理条件、环境污染（如铅）和/或施用的治疗（如汞）有关。随着研究数量的预期增加，必须建立良好的方法，使不同研究人员的结果具有可比性：X射线荧光是一种非破坏性技术，可测量从镁（12Mg）到铋（83Bi）等元素的微小浓度（ppm）。局限性：pXRF 无法检测比镁更轻的元素，而且其较低能量激发的穿透力低于其他技术：其他研究小组应测试这些指南，并就其实用性和可复制性发表意见。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

International Journal of Paleopathology PALEONTOLOGY-PATHOLOGY

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

25.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Paleopathology is the study and application of methods and techniques for investigating diseases and related conditions from skeletal and soft tissue remains. The International Journal of Paleopathology (IJPP) will publish original and significant articles on human and animal (including hominids) disease, based upon the study of physical remains, including osseous, dental, and preserved soft tissues at a range of methodological levels, from direct observation to molecular, chemical, histological and radiographic analysis. Discussion of ways in which these methods can be applied to the reconstruction of health, disease and life histories in the past is central to the discipline, so the journal would also encourage papers covering interpretive and theoretical issues, and those that place the study of disease at the centre of a bioarchaeological or biocultural approach. Papers dealing with historical evidence relating to disease in the past (rather than history of medicine) will also be published. The journal will also accept significant studies that applied previously developed techniques to new materials, setting the research in the context of current debates on past human and animal health.