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Bulk Elemental Analysis of Human Teeth Using Low-Energy Photon Attenuation and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry
Abstract
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) ϒ-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.
Supporting agencies: The authors thank the International College at Zhejiang University and the Zhejiang Provincial Government for the Master’s scholarship awarded to Omar Medhat Mostafa.
About the Authors
O. M. Mostafa
Zhejiang University
China
China
Omar Medhat Mostafa - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University.
Hangzhou
M. E. Medhat
Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA)
Egypt
Egypt
Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Center (NRC), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA).
Cairo
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Review
For citations:
Mostafa O.M., Medhat M.E. Bulk Elemental Analysis of Human Teeth Using Low-Energy Photon Attenuation and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry. Zhurnal Prikladnoii Spektroskopii. 2026;93(2):289-1-289-10.
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