Neutron activation analysis at the research reactor center of IPEN/CNEN-SP- biological and environmental applications.

The Research Reactor Center (CRPQ) of IPEN/CNEN-SP operates the IEA-R1 Research Reactor, at a nominal power of 2 MW thermal, on a 64 hour per week continuous cycle. The IEA-R1 is a pool type reactor, moderated and cooled by light water, with graphite as a reflector. One of the main activities of CRPQ is the neutron activation analysis, which is applied to many fields of research, in collaboration with other institutes and universities. The Research Reactor installations are also intensely used for human resources development in the field of radiochemistry and neutron activation analysis, at graduate and post-graduate levels. In the present paper, an overview will be presented of some of the neutron activation analysis research lines that are being developed, comprising environmental and health-related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]