Bulk Elemental Analysis of Human Teeth Using Low-Energy Photon Attenuation and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry
摘要
We present an analytical technique for quantifying the elemental composition of human teeth using low-energy photon attenuation in the 10–150 keV range. The method leverages the strong atomic number (Z) dependence of the photoelectric effect, facilitating the precise identification and quantification of major constituents (e.g., Ca, P) and trace elements (e.g., Na, Mg). Dental samples, representing demographic groups from children to elderly individuals, were analyzed using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometer, configured for high energy resolution at low photon energies. Experimental mass attenuation coefficients were validated against both Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations and the XCOM database, demonstrating strong agreement with deviations consistently below 5%. The technique offers distinct advantages over surface-sensitive methods for obtaining depth-averaged compositional data.