Radiochemical neutron activation analysis of biological materials: Past, present and future

The contribution of radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RCNAA) to trace-element analysis of biological materials in the last decades is outlined. Presently, the use of RCNAA is declining since various powerful non-nuclear techniques for trace-element analysis have become available, strongly competing with RCNAA. This necessitates a re-evaluation of the position of RCNAA versus other analytical techniques for trace element analysis of biological materials. On the basis of the characteristic features of RCNAA and the capabilities of competing non-nuclear analytical techniques, possible future niches for RCNAA in the analytical market are indicated.