It's my understanding that, upon irradiation of humans with neutrons
(purposefully or by accident), the minerals in the body (Ca2+, for
example) will be activated and will emit radiation in their decay
process.
(if this is incorrect please do correct me. I am also assuming that
neutron activation is the only way to activate minerals by
irradiation).
My questions:
Q.1.) Does anyone have a list of the predominant minerals in
the human body that would become activated upon irradiation with
neutrons?
Q.2.) What are the half-lives of these activated minerals?
Q.3.) Could these internal emissions (from the activated
minerals in decay) be detected at the surface of the individual's
skin?
Many thanks
Antonio Quiñones
aq12 at cornell.edu
