Experimental assessment of the influence of beam hardening filters on image quality and patient dose in volumetric 64-slice X-ray CT scanners

Beam hardening filters have long been employed in X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) to preferentially absorb soft and low-energy X-rays having no or little contribution to image formation, thus allowing the reduction of patient dose and beam hardening artefacts. In this work, we studied the influence of additional copper (Cu) and aluminium (Al) flat filters on patient dose and image quality and seek an optimum filter thickness for the GE LightSpeed VCT 64-slice CT scanner using experimental phantom measurements. Different thicknesses of Cu and Al filters (0.5–1.6 mm Cu, 0.5–4 mm Al) were installed on the scanner’s collimator. A planar phantom consisting of 13 slabs of Cu having different thicknesses was designed and scanned to assess the impact of beam filtration on contrast in the intensity domain (CT detector’s output). To assess image contrast and image noise, a cylindrical phantom consisting of a polyethylene cylinder having 16 holes filled with different concentrations of K₂HPO₄ solution mimicking different tissue types was used. The GE performance and the standard head CT dose index (CTDI) phantoms were also used to assess image resolution characterized by the modulation transfer function (MTF) and patient dose defined by the weighted CTDI. A 100 mm pencil ionization chamber was used for CTDI measurement. Finally, an optimum filter thickness was determined from an objective figure of merit (FOM) metric. The results show that the contrast is somewhat compromised with filter thickness in both the planar and cylindrical phantoms. The contrast of the K₂HPO₄ solutions in the cylindrical phantom was degraded by up to 10% for a 0.68 mm Cu filter and 6% for a 4.14 mm Al filter. It was shown that additional filters increase image noise which impaired the detectability of low density K₂HPO₄ solutions. It was found that with a 0.48 mm Cu filter the 50% MTF value is shifted by about 0.77 lp/cm compared to the case where the filter is not used. An added Cu filter with approximately 0.5 mm thickness accounts for 50% reduction in radiation-absorbed dose as measured by the weighted CTDI. The FOM results indicate that with an additional filter of 0.5 mm Cu or minimum 4 mm Al, a good compromise between image quality and patient dose is achieved for CT images acquired at tube voltages of 120 and 140 kVp. The results seem to indicate that an optimum filter for high kVp acquisitions, routinely used in cardiovascular imaging, should be 0.5 mm copper or 4 mm aluminium minimum.     

Quantified elemental changes inAspidisca cicada andVorticella convallaria after exposure to aluminium, copper, and zinc

Summary Data on metal-induced elemental changes in eukaryotic unicellular organisms, such as protozoa, are rare. This study focused on two species of ciliate protozoa,Aspidisca cicada andVorticella convallaria, both common and abundant in activated sludge. Elemental changes in cells exposed to aluminium, copper, and zinc were determined by scanning electron microscopy-electron probe X-ray microanalysis. X-ray emission spectra obtained from cells 2 h after resuspension in Chalkley's medium (control) showed clear, characteristic peaks for magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, potassium, and copper. These elements were also routinely detected in all cells resuspended in metal solution. Spectra obtained from cells treated with aluminium or zinc showed additional distinct peaks for aluminium and zinc. In copper-treated cells enhanced copper peaks were seen. Mean aluminium levels were low inA. cicada control cells (0.14mg/g of dry weight) but higher in cells treated with 0.50 ppm (0.69 mg/g of dry weight) and 2.00 ppm aluminium (2.07 mg/g of dry weight).A. cicada was ten times more sensitive to copper than to the other metals, and thanV. convallaria. There was a significantly higher concentration of copper inA. cicada cells treated with 0.20 ppm copper (2.94 mg/g of dry weight) than in control cells (2.16 mg/g of dry weight). InA. cicada cells treated with 0.50 and 2.00 ppm zinc significantly higher levels of zinc (2.41 and 2.07 mg/g of dry weight, respectively) were observed than in the control (0.41 mg/g of dry weight). After treatment with 0.50 ppm and 2.00 ppm aluminium, aluminium was significantly higher in the treatedV. convallaria cells (1.58 and 0.67 mg/g of dry weight, respectively) than in control cells (0.14 mg/g of dry weight). After treatment with 2.00 ppm copper there was significantly more copper in treatedV. convallaria cells (3.63 mg/g of dry weight) than in controls (2.08 mg/g of dry weight). InV. convallaria cells treated with 0.50 ppm and 2.00 ppm zinc there was an increase in the amount of zinc in cells (1.30 and 2.68 mg/g of dry weight, respectively) compared with control cells (0.34 mg/g of dry weight). Data on other changes in intracellular elements in both species, after 2 h exposure to aluminium, copper, and zinc medium are given. In both species, there was uptake and/or accumulation of aluminium, copper, and zinc when the external concentration of the metal was increased. Intracellular elemental levels were altered by sublethal and toxic external concentrations of the metals studied.A. cicada was ten times more sensitive to copper than to aluminium or zinc, and thanV. convallaria to the metals studied.     

Neutron-induced gamma dose from a reactor beam filter for boron neutron capture therapy

For the boron neutron capture therapy (NCT) of deep-seated metastatic melanoma, an epithermal (up to a few keV energy) neutron beam from a reactor horizontal facility could be useful if the inherent contamination from fast neutrons and gamma rays could be minimised. Calculations for ANSTO's 10 MW research reactor HIFAR have shown that, even though a filter material such as AlF3 attenuates the fast neutron dose, the beam quality improvement is counteracted by a relative increase in the gamma dose because of the gammas arising from neutron captures in the filter material, particularly the aluminium. The aluminium gammas, most of which arise from thermal neutron capture, are hard and cannot be attenuated by lead or bismuth without comparable attenuation of the epithermal neutron flux. Addition of an absorber such as 6Li to the AlF3 filter was investigated as a means of reducing the hard gamma dose, but the improvement in beam quality was small and at considerable cost to dose intensity. Dose characteristics calculations confirmed the superiority of a tangential beam over a radial beam with better results from an unfiltered tangential beam than from an AlF3 filter in a radial beam. This study showed conclusively that assessments of filter assemblies based on the effect of individual components on either the neutron or gamma dose in isolation are inadequate. In assessing any epithermal neutron filter, thermal neutron shield, and gamma shield combination, the total effect of each on the neutron, gamma, and boron-10 dose must be considered.     

Potential for preventing spread of fungi in air-conditioning systems constructed using copper instead of aluminium

Aims:  As copper has been previously suggested as an antimicrobial surface, we tested the effectiveness of copper as an antifungal surface which could be used in air-conditioning systems as an alternative to aluminium.
Methods and Results:  Coupons of copper (C11000) and aluminium were inoculated with fungal isolates ( Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium chrysogenum and Candida albicans ) for various time periods. Culture on potato dextrose agar and an in situ viability assay using the fluorochrome FUN-1 were used to determine whether spores had survived. The results showed increased die off of fungal isolates tested compared to aluminium. In addition, copper also prevented the germination of spores present, thereby reducing the risk of the release of spores.
Conclusions:  Copper offered an antifungal surface and prevented subsequent germination of spores present. FUN-1 demonstrated that fungal spores entered into a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state on copper indicating the importance of using such methods when assessing the effect of an antifungal as culture alone may give false results.
Significance and impact of study:  Copper offers a valuable alternative to aluminium which could be used in air-conditioning systems in buildings, particularly in hospital environments where patients are more susceptible to fungal infections.     

The effect of beverage preparation method on aluminium content in coffee infusions

Seven types of coffee were prepared by four methods. Three of them – simple coffee infusion, preparation in ibrick and moka pot – are very often used to prepare coffee at home. The fourth one – a single-cup filter is typical for Vietnam. Cookware used for each method was made from glass, aluminium, stainless steel and two types of alloys. Amounts of Al leaching to coffee infusions were determined. On average, the highest amount of Al was in coffee infusions brewed in aluminium single-cup filter, and the lowest in infusions prepared by simple extraction. Other brewing methods in combination with different tool materials resulted in similar Al content. The type of brewing method significantly influences the Al content in final infusion. Aluminium content varies in infusions in relation to the method of choice, especially when using single-cup filter. Despite the fact that coffee is considered to be a poor source of Al for humans, in some cases, Al content in infusions can even reach the values reported for tea infusions.     

Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of poplar and willow short-rotation coppice used as vegetation filter

Ten-day evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop coefficient (k(c)) of willow and poplar SRC used as vegetation filter and grown under fertilised (F) and unfertilised (NF) conditions, were determined for two successive growing seasons using volumetric lysimeters. During the first growing season, total ETc observed was, respectively, 620 (NF)-1190 (F)mm in willow and 590 (NF)-725 (F) in poplar. During the second growing season, ETc showed a general increase, mainly in fertilised lysimeters where it ranged between 890 (NF)-1790 mm (F) in willow and 710 (NF)-1100 mm (NF) in poplar. kc reached in both years its maximum between the end of August and the beginning of September. In 2004 maximum kc ranged from 1.25-2.84 in willow and 1.06-1.90 in poplar, whereas in 2005 it ranged from 1.97-5.30 in willow and 1.71-4.28 in poplar. ETc seemed to be strongly correlated to plant development and mainly dependent on its nutritional status rather than on the differences between the species.     

Monte-Carlo simulation of a slot-scanning X-ray imaging system

We present a method for simulating slot-scanning X-ray imaging using the general-purpose Monte Carlo simulation package PENELOPE and penEasy Imaging. Different phantoms can be defined with the PENGEOM package, which defines bodies as combinations of volumes limited by quadric surfaces. The source-detector geometry, the position of the object, the collimator, the X-ray tube properties, the detector material and the pixel dimensions are defined. The output of the time-delay integration detector is simulated using sequential slot outputs derived from penEasy Imaging. The simulations are validated using tungsten and aluminium test objects, which are both simulated and imaged. The simulations are compared to the X-ray images using standard image quality metrics. The MTF, NPS and DQE curves show that the real and simulated X-ray images are comparable in terms of spatial resolution, noise and frequency information. The implementation can be modified to suit alterations in the system being simulated.     

Acid-induced acute toxicity of aluminium to three species of filter feeding caddis larvae (Trichoptera, Arctopsychidae and Hydropsychidae)

1. Arctopsyche ladogensis , Hydropsyche angustipennis and Hydropsyche siltalai larvae were exposed to nominal aluminium concentrations of 0, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 μg Al l^–1 at pH 5.0 for 96 h. Larvae reared at pH 6.4 and without any aluminium treatment were used as controls. Morphological abnormalities in the anal papillae of the larvae were used as the response variable in estimating the median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of aluminium.
2. No morphological abnormalities were observed in the control larvae. Only a few individuals of A. ladogensis had darkened anal papillae at pH 5.0 without additional aluminium treatment, whereas increasing aluminium concentrations significantly increased the number of individuals in all species displaying darkening and reduction of the papillae.
3. A. ladogensis appeared to be the most sensitive species to increasing aluminium concentrations, as reflected by the significantly lower mean EC₅₀ value for this species compared with those of H. siltalai and H. angustipennis . H. angustipennis larvae were the most tolerant to aluminium.
4. The results indicate that interspecific differences in sensitivity to aluminium may be a key factor influencing the guild structure of filter feeding caddis flies in acidified streams. The results also imply that toxic effects of aluminium on filter feeding caddis larvae occur due to the impairment of normal osmoregulation processes via damage to the ion-regulatory organs.     

Acid-induced acute toxicity of aluminium to three species of filter feeding caddis larvae (Trichoptera, Arctopsychidae and Hydropsychidae)

1. Arctopsyche ladogensis , Hydropsyche angustipennis and Hydropsyche siltalai larvae were exposed to nominal aluminium concentrations of 0, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 μg Al l^–1 at pH 5.0 for 96 h. Larvae reared at pH 6.4 and without any aluminium treatment were used as controls. Morphological abnormalities in the anal papillae of the larvae were used as the response variable in estimating the median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of aluminium.
2. No morphological abnormalities were observed in the control larvae. Only a few individuals of A. ladogensis had darkened anal papillae at pH 5.0 without additional aluminium treatment, whereas increasing aluminium concentrations significantly increased the number of individuals in all species displaying darkening and reduction of the papillae.
3. A. ladogensis appeared to be the most sensitive species to increasing aluminium concentrations, as reflected by the significantly lower mean EC₅₀ value for this species compared with those of H. siltalai and H. angustipennis . H. angustipennis larvae were the most tolerant to aluminium.
4. The results indicate that interspecific differences in sensitivity to aluminium may be a key factor influencing the guild structure of filter feeding caddis flies in acidified streams. The results also imply that toxic effects of aluminium on filter feeding caddis larvae occur due to the impairment of normal osmoregulation processes via damage to the ion-regulatory organs.     

Nonlinear features and complexity patterns of vegetation dynamics in the transition zone of North China

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been commonly used to estimate terrestrial vegetation distribution and productivity. In this study, we adopted recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to investigate the spatial patterns of determinism of the vegetation dynamics ecological-geographical transition zones in North China, especially the differences between transition zone and the surrounding areas. The results indicated that there were obvious regional variances in spatial patterns of RQA indices—determinism, laminarity, entropy, and averaged diagonal line length. Remarkable differences of the determinism of NDVI time series also existed between transition zones and the surrounding areas. Moreover, the correlation analysis between the RQA indices and climatic factors suggested that the determinism of the NDVI time series was nonlinearly affected by hydrothermal conditions. Influenced by vegetation patterns, determinism reached the maximum when the annual precipitation is about 400 mm, which is the lower bound of cultivation and forest distribution, and along the 400 mm isohyet is the area where transition zones locate.     

Comparison of Deconvolution Filters for Photoacoustic Tomography

In this work, we compare the merits of three temporal data deconvolution methods for use in the filtered backprojection algorithm for photoacoustic tomography (PAT). We evaluate the standard Fourier division technique, the Wiener deconvolution filter, and a Tikhonov L-2 norm regularized matrix inversion method. Our experiments were carried out on subjects of various appearances, namely a pencil lead, two man-made phantoms, an in vivo subcutaneous mouse tumor model, and a perfused and excised mouse brain. All subjects were scanned using an imaging system with a rotatable hemispherical bowl, into which 128 ultrasound transducer elements were embedded in a spiral pattern. We characterized the frequency response of each deconvolution method, compared the final image quality achieved by each deconvolution technique, and evaluated each method’s robustness to noise. The frequency response was quantified by measuring the accuracy with which each filter recovered the ideal flat frequency spectrum of an experimentally measured impulse response. Image quality under the various scenarios was quantified by computing noise versus resolution curves for a point source phantom, as well as the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of selected image features such as dots and linear structures in additional imaging subjects. It was found that the Tikhonov filter yielded the most accurate balance of lower and higher frequency content (as measured by comparing the spectra of deconvolved impulse response signals to the ideal flat frequency spectrum), achieved a competitive image resolution and contrast-to-noise ratio, and yielded the greatest robustness to noise. While the Wiener filter achieved a similar image resolution, it tended to underrepresent the lower frequency content of the deconvolved signals, and hence of the reconstructed images after backprojection. In addition, its robustness to noise was poorer than that of the Tikhonov filter. The performance of the Fourier filter was found to be the poorest of all three methods, based on the reconstructed images’ lowest resolution (blurriest appearance), generally lowest contrast-to-noise ratio, and lowest robustness to noise. Overall, the Tikhonov filter was deemed to produce the most desirable image reconstructions.     

Long-term effects of aluminium on the fetal mouse brain.

Potentially noxious substances may act as fetal teratogens at levels far lower than those required to produce detectable effects in adults, and behavioural teratogenicity may occur at levels lower than those which produce morphological teratogenesis. Aluminium (Al) is a potential neurotoxin in adults. Since pregnant women may be exposed to untoward levels of Al compounds under certain conditions, we have examined the long-term effects of treating the pregnant mouse with intraperitoneal or oral aluminium sulphate on brain biochemistry and behaviour of the offspring. The cholinergic system, as evaluated by the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), was affected differentially in different regions of the brain, and still showed significant effects in the adult. Differences between the intraperitoneal and oral series in the magnitude of effect seen in the regions of the brain probably reflect differences in the effective level of exposure. Growth rate and psychomotor maturation in the pre-weaning mouse were affected in the intraperitoneal series only, showing a marked post-natal maternal effect.     

Dual energy radiography using X-ray films and intensifying screens

The aim of this study was to investigate dual energy (DE) systems using X-ray films and intensifying screens as detecting media. This has been studied using both experimental methods and numerical modelling. Numerical methods were used to calculate energy losses due to K-fluourescent escape originating from the phosphors of the intensifying screens. This enabled the calculation of absorbed energy in screens. The method for screen selection and prediction of performance used the fact that detector response depends upon impinging X-ray energy. By equating the detector's absorbing characteristics to the resultant optical density (OD), an absorbed energy constant was calculated. These constants were used to predict OD for a given X-ray spectrum and hence simulation of detector characteristics. Experimental techniques were used to investigate sensitivity to chemical composition changes. These results compared favourably with computed values. It was demonstrated that although limitations exist, detector simulations are valid and X-ray film intensifying screen combinations make adequate DE detectors.     

Inactivation and mutation of cultured mammalian cells by aluminium characteristic ultrasoft X-rays. III. Implication for theory of dual radiation action.

Microdosimetric distributions for aluminium K characteristic ultrasoft X-rays and 4He ion tract intersections are calculated and used to analyse recent biological results obtained with these radiations. Results on inactivation and mutation-induction to thioguanine resistance of both V79 Chinese hamster cells and HF19 human diploid fibroblasts in vitro are analysed in terms of the Kellerer-Rossi "theory of dual radiation action". The small quantum energy of the aluminium X-ray photons and the very short length of the secondary electrons which they produce highlight the inadequacy of the model. It is shown that the model predicts r.b.e. values in conflict with those observed unless an additional variable is introduced, but that the introduction of such a variable creates mathematical inconsistencies. The experimental evidence is contrary to the conventional usage and basis of the model.     

FDA 2014 survey of eye area cosmetics for microbiological safety

The aim of this work was to evaluate a fungal DNA extraction procedure with the lowest inputs in terms of time as well as of expensive and toxic chemicals, but able to consistently produce genomic DNA of good quality for PCR purposes. Two types of fungal biological material were tested ‐ mycelium and conidia ‐ combined with two protocols for DNA extraction using Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) and Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide as extraction buffers and glass beads for mechanical disruption of cell walls. Our results showed that conidia and SDS buffer was the combination that lead to the best DNA quality and yield, with the lowest variation between samples. This study clearly demonstrates that it is possible to obtain high yield and pure DNA from pigmented conidia without the use of strong cell disrupting procedures and of toxic reagents.

Significance and Impact of the Study

There are numerous methods for DNA extraction from fungi. Some rely on expensive commercial kits and/or equipments, unavailable for many laboratories, or make use of toxic chemicals such as chloroform, phenol and mercaptoethanol. This study clearly demonstrates that it is possible to obtain high yields of pure DNA from pigmented conidia without the use of strong and expensive cell disrupting procedures and of toxic reagents. The method herein described is simultaneously inexpensive and adequate to DNA extraction from several different types of fungi.     

Male field crickets that provide reproductive benefits to females incur higher costs

Abstract.  1. Females often select mates based on signals correlated with the quality of the direct benefits that males will provide to them. A male's quality as a mate and the structure of his mating signals may covary because both traits are energetically expensive for males to produce and because both traits are affected by short-term changes in nutritional condition.
2. In the variable field cricket, Gryllus lineaticeps , previous work has shown that females receive reproductive benefits from males that produce higher chirp rates and lifespan benefits from males that produce longer chirp durations, even when they only receive the sperm and seminal fluid contained in male spermatophores. Higher chirp rates are energetically expensive for males to produce, and chirp rate is strongly affected by diet quality, whereas longer chirp durations do not appear to be expensive for males to produce, and chirp duration does not appear to be affected by male diet quality. In this study two hypotheses were tested about the energetic costs of spermatophore production: (1) that spermatophores are expensive for males to produce and (2) that males providing greater direct benefits to females incur higher costs of spermatophore production.
3. Males that were provided with a lower quality diet took longer to produce a new spermatophore. This result suggests that spermatophores are costly for males to produce.
4. Males that produced higher chirp rates took longer to produce a new spermatophore. This result suggests that male chirp rate and female reproductive benefits may covary because both traits are energetically expensive for males to produce and thus are affected by male nutritional condition. There was no association, however, between male chirp duration and spermatophore production time.     

Serum lipoprotein profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in Wistar rats fed drinking water containing iron and copper

The aim of the research was to estimate the effect of different doses and combinations of iron and copper consumption with drinking water on lipid profile and oxidative stress biomarkers in albino Wistar rats serum. Rats were given drinking water containing 3 mg L^?1 and 6 mg L^?1 iron; copper 4.88 and 9.76 mg L^?1; a mixture of 3 mg L^?1 iron and 4.88 mg L^?1 copper. Control group obtained pure drinking water. Total cholesterol, lipoprotein spectrum and markers of lipid and protein oxidation were analyzed. It has been seen that administration of iron in concentration of 6 mg L^?1 induces lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, while copper given in the maximal doses leads only to protein oxidation. Free radical oxidation in rats obtaining combination of iron and copper with drinking water was more expressed than in case of administration of single metals in the same doses. Consumption of maximal doses of isolated metals leads to more expressed atherogenic changes, while combination of both metals in lower doses did not affect serum lipoprotein significantly. The data obtained show that chemical interaction of iron and copper in the organism has an additive effect on some vital parameters in comparison to isolated metal administration.     

Recovery of bacterial spores dried on aluminium strips

Bacterial spores dried on aluminium strips are used in microbiological validation of packaging and processing systems. Vortex agitation and sonication in Butterfield's buffer, 70% ethanol or 0·1% Tween 80 were evaluated for ease of recovery of bacillus spores dried on aluminium strips to compare the concentration of dried spores to dilutions used to inoculate such strips. The highest recovery for Bacillus subtilis var. globigii spores was observed with sonication in 70% ethanol with average recovery close to the initial inoculum. The highest recovery for B. stearothermophilus spores was with sonication in Butterfield's buffer, averaging 0·8 log less recovery than the initial inoculum. Bacillus subtilis var. globigii spores were recovered from strips in greater numbers than B. stearothermophilus spores for all treatment medium combinations. Scanning electron microscopy revealed unrecovered spores adhering to strips after treatment. Recovery of B. subtilis var. globigii spores decreased with time over the 4 week storage period.     

Localization and fate of aluminium in the digestive gland of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis

The digestive gland of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis, exposed to water containing an elevated concentration of aluminium at neutral pH for up to 30 days, followed by a 20 day recovery period, was examined by light and electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Aluminium was localized in the yellow granules present in the digestive and excretory cells and in the green and small granules present in the digestive cells. More aluminium, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur were present in all three granule types from aluminium exposed snails. The number of yellow and green granules from the digestive gland of aluminium exposed snails showed a progressive increase over the experimental period compared to controls. The number and aluminium content of the granules is likely to reflect the role of the digestive gland as a 'sink' for accumulated aluminium. We propose that intracellular monomeric silica is involved in the detoxification of aqueous aluminium which at neutral pH is largely in the form of an insoluble polyhydroxide. The increased amounts of sulphur and phosphorus in the granules are likely to be part of a broad response to metal loading but probably do not play a significant role in the storage and detoxification of aluminium.     

The localization of aluminium in the digestive gland of the terrestrial snail Helix aspersa

The terrestrial snail Helix aspersa was exposed to food containing elevated levels of aluminium for up to 33 days and the digestive gland examined by light and electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Four types of cell are found in the digestive gland, (digestive, excretory, calcium and thin) although aluminium was only found in the excretory cells. The aluminium was localised in the 'yellow' or excretory granules that are a characteristic feature of the excretory cells. Aluminium was only found in the granules of snails fed aluminium but there was no difference in the appearance of granules from control or aluminium-fed snails. The granules were large (up to 20 mum in diameter), irregularly shaped and electron-dense. Sulphur, phosphorus and calcium were detected in granules from all snails. The presence of sulphur may indicate protein residues. The amount of aluminium and phosphorus in the granules increased over the experimental period but the number of granules did not change. Levels of aluminium in the granules decreased when the snails were given control food. The role of the excretory granules in the localisation, detoxification and excretion of aluminium is discussed.