Radiochemical neutron activation analysis in the life sciences. A look back and ahead.

The contribution of radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RCNAA) to a better understanding of trace element analytics and physiology in the life sciences is outlined. Now, various non-nuclear powerful techniques for trace element analysis have become available, competing with RCNAA. This necessitates re-evaluation of the position of RCNAA, in particular versus inductively coupled plasma--mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). On basis of the characteristic features of RCNAA and the capabilities of various competing non-nuclear analytical techniques, future niches for RCNAA in the analytical market are indicated.