STUDY ON RUBIDIUM CONCENTRATION OF DIFFERENT SAMPLES FROM KESHAN DISEASE AREA OF SICHUAN PROVINCE

Rubidium (Rb) concentration in different samples collected from Keshan disease (KD) area of Sichuan Province has been determined with PIXE and NAA (Neutron Activity Analysis), and compared with that in three non-KD areas. About 200 erythrocyte samples of healthy children aged from 6 to 11 were collected from four different areas with various selenium status. 20 rice samples and 6 soil samples were taken from two of above four areas. The results showed that Rb content of erythrocyte of children in KD area (Dechang county) was three times that in the other three non-KD areas. The Rb contents of rice and soil in KD area were higher than that in non-KD areas, too. The abnormal high Rb concentration in erythrocyte of children depended on the Rb intake and the Rb level of the living environment.