Rapid, Quantitative, Trace Element Measurement of Toxins in Consumer Products

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的目的是证明一种无损的、紧凑的、可靠的、易于操作的x射线荧光（XRF）分析仪的可行性，用于在电子产品和其他相关消费品的制造点测量有毒元素。对生产或配送中心的干预将大大减少消费者在家庭、学校、工作场所或最终被填埋的产品中接触到的污染。这款电子制造分析仪将适用于工厂车间，采用新的，强大的，专有的单色双弯曲晶体（DCC） x射线光学器件，源配置和相关软件，大大提高了元素分析的效率和灵敏度。这些毒素自然存在于环境中，但也包括在制造过程中，如抗紫外线，耐用性和强度。已知这些有毒元素在体内的异常水平与许多健康障碍有关，如癌症、认知障碍以及呼吸、心脏病和其他神经系统症状。尽管这些有毒金属具有公认的重要性，但直到最近才对其进行管制，其水平超过了目前的实际测量技术（即2002年《有害物质限制指令》和2008年《消费品安全改进法案》）。目前的现场便携式仪器不能满足制造商或监管机构的定量需求。这导致了以实验室为基础的测量的重大转变，这些测量是准确的，但它们也很复杂，耗时且昂贵。这种方法需要样品运输、处理、延迟和训练有素的操作人员。获得此类测量认证的实验室在数量和分布区域上也是有限的。因此，两种解决方案都不符合目的。在这个项目中提出的有毒元素分析仪是基于推进x射线光学和软件功能，用于电子和玩具，同时使其易于使用，任何操作员只需最少的培训。新系统将允许前所未有的x射线荧光灵敏度同时测量大多数受管制的元素毒素，包括传统上难以测量的元素，如镉、锑和钡。提出的新分析仪通过提供一种廉价、可靠的元素毒素分析仪，适用于工厂车间，极大地改变了公共卫生状况。通过在源头进行干预，该工具将减少或消除我们的消费产品在不知情的情况下直接暴露的风险，以及在垃圾填埋场处置这些物品时间接暴露在环境中的风险。这将降低医疗保健成本，同时提高法规遵从能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a nondestructive, compact, reliable, easy-to-operate X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer for measurement of toxic elements in electronics and other related consumer products at their point of manufacture. The intervention at the manufacturing or distribution center will substantially eliminate the exposure to the consumer at home, school, work, or from the product that ends up in a landfill. This electronics manufacturing analyzer will be fit for purpose on the factory floor, enabled by new, powerful, proprietary, monochromatic doubly curved crystal (DCC) X-ray optics, source configurations, and associated software that greatly increases the efficiency and sensitivity for this elemental analysis. These toxins occur naturally in the environment, but also are included in manufacturing processes for purposes such as UV resistance, durability, and strength. Abnormal levels of these toxic elements in the body are known to be associated with many health disorders such as cancer, cognitive impairment, as well as respiratory, cardiological, and other neurological symptoms. In spite of their recognized importance, only recently have these toxic metals been regulated at levels exceeding current practical measurement techniques (i.e. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive of 2002, and Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008). Current field-portable instrumentation does not meet the quantitative needs of manufacturers or regulatory agencies. This has caused a significant shift to laboratory-based measurements which are accurate, but they are also complex, time-consuming, and expensive. That approach requires sample transportation, handling, delays, and highly trained operators. The laboratories certified for such measurements are also limited in number and regional in distribution. As a result, neither solution is fit for purpose. The toxic element analyzer proposed in this project is based on advancing the X-ray optics and software capability for use in electronics and toys, while simultaneously making it simple-to-use for any operator with minimal training. The new system will allow unprecedented X-ray fluorescence of sensitivity for simultaneously measuring most regulated elemental toxins, including traditionally difficult to measure elements such as cadmium, antimony, and barium. The proposed new analyzer changes the public-health situation dramatically by offering an inexpensive, reliable elemental toxin analyzer that is fit for purpose on the factory floor. By intervening at the source, this instrument will reduce or eliminate the risk of unknowing direct exposure from our consumer products as well as indirect exposure in the environment from disposal of these items in a landfill. This will reduce health-care costs, and simultaneously improve regulatory compliance capabilities. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed electronics and manufacturing analyzer has the potential to substantially mitigate or even eliminate many toxic element exposures by intervening at the source with a quantitative, simple-to-use, substantially matrix independent, and nondestructive instrument to identify problems at the factory or distribution center before the toxins reach the home, school, or work place. The positive impacts to public health include decreased toxic element exposure, which leads to reduced public-health effects, reduced remediation costs, and reduced health-care costs. The applicability for such an instrument is vast and includes testing for the regulated toxic elements (i.e. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive of 2002, or Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008) in electronics, other related consumer products, and products intended for children.